Cyber Bullying and Traditional Bullying... Whats the Difference?
Certain characteristics inherent in online technologies increase the
likelihood that they will be exploited for deviant purposes. Unlike physical
bullying, electronic bullies can remain virtually anonymous using temporary
email accounts, chat rooms, instant messaging programs, cell-phone text
messaging, and other Internet venues to mask their identity; this perhaps frees
them from normal and social constraints on their behaviour.
Additionally, electronic forums often
lack supervision. While chat hosts regularly observe the dialogue in some chat
rooms in an effort to police conversations and evict, remove, or ban offensive
individuals, personal messages sent between users (such as electronic mail or
text messages) are viewable only by the sender and the recipient, thereby
outside the regulatory reach of such authorities. Furthermore, when teenagers
know more about computers and cellular phones than their parents or guardians,
they are therefore able to operate the technologies without concern that a
parent will discover their experience with bullying (whether as a victim or
offender).
Another factor is the inseparability of a cellular phone from its owner,
making that person a constant target for victimisation. Users often need to
keep their phone turned on for a number of purposes, which provides the
opportunity for those with cruel intentions to engage in persistent unwelcome
behaviour such as harassing telephone calls or threatening and insulting
statements via text messages. Cyber bullying penetrates the walls of a home,
traditionally a place where victims could avoid other forms of bullying. This
infiltration into the home life of the cyber bully victim is the unique way in
which the Internet can create simultaneous sensations of exposure and
alienation. For youth who experience shame or self-hatred, this effect is
dangerous because it can lead to extreme self-isolation.
One possible advantage for victims of
cyber bullying over traditional bullying is that they may sometimes be able to
avoid it simply by avoiding the site/chat room in question. Email addresses and
phone numbers can be changed and e-mail accounts now offer services that will
automatically filter out messages from certain senders before they even reach
the inbox, and phones offer similar caller ID functions. Bullying through text,
email, social networking sites, etc. also provides the victim with evidence
against the bully to present to a friend or family member.
However, this does not protect against all forms of cyber bullying;
publishing offensive material about a person on the internet is extremely
difficult to prevent and once it is posted, many people can potentially
download and copy it, at which point it is almost impossible to remove from the
Internet. Some perpetrators may post victims' photos, or victims' edited photos
like defaming captions or pasting victims' faces on nude bodies. Despite
policies that describe cyber bullying as a violation of the terms of service,
many social networking Web sites have been used to that end.
Another result of cyber bullying that differentiates from normal or
physical bullying is the lack of visual damage or pain. Cyber bullying affects
victims mentally, which makes it difficult for family members or close friends
to detect or notice on a person. This can leave the victim feeling very
isolated and feeling as though they have no one to turn to. Unfortunately in
the most extreme example, can lead the victim to commit self-harm, or in the
worst case, suicide.
