Technology is a fickle thing. For the most part, it is beneficial to the point that people’s lives would be a lot more difficult if it did not exist. On a daily basis, people use technology to carry out important tasks, such as buying groceries, keeping in touch with others, and watching TV shows and movies.
What technology users fail to realize is that technology can also be used as a weapon, particularly in the area of cyberbullying. When I first heard about cyberbullying, I did not understand how it was different from physical bullying. Frankly, I was not interested in writing about it, until I read about the cyberbullying experiences of Star Wars alum Carrie Fischer [0] and a Star Wars fan named Ghyslain Raza [1]. Reading statements about Raza’s nightmare of cyberbullying, like “What I saw was mean… It was violent… People were telling me to commit suicide,” which all started because a friend posted a video of him reenacting Star Wars [2], I was intrigued and convinced that everybody should learn what cyberbullying and its causes and effects, since it can occur to anybody at any time at any place.
What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is “bullying that takes place using electronic technology, which includes devices, equipment, and a variety of communication tools…” [3]. In today’s rapidly changing society, it is not surprising to see people communicating more often online through social networking sites, emails, and text messages rather than valuing face-to-face interactions.
The primary reason I can think of is it makes the user more comfortable, and because of the relaxation and accessibility, it leads him or her into a false sense of security and online accountability. As a result of these elements, he or she might erroneously think that sending one mean text message or email or posting a crude pic online is harmless, when in actuality, he or she is engaging in online bullying.
Understandably, you might ask, “Okay, this is an appropriate definition, but what are the specific causes and effects?” One of the most common reasons for committing cyberbullying is revenge. People who commit cyberbullying against other cyber-bullies do so because “they feel that they are righting wrongs or protecting other people” [4]. Cyberbullies who engage in these activities see themselves as heroic vigilantes; they fail to see that their sense of revenge and justice are severely blurred and difficult to differentiate.
As long as their actions achieve the end result of protecting a friend, cyberbullies will continue the negative cycle, convinced their actions are justified. Another motivation for cyberbullying is to display power. Cyberbullies mock or abuse the liberties of others as a sign of “showing others how powerful they are” [5]. They want to persuade their victims that they are the “top dog” in the online universe. In an effort to exercise their power status, cyberbullies persist in their tyranny by “making others do what they want and have control” [6]. They want to instill fear into their victims to display their dominance. It is easy because the victims do not know who their tormentors are, which gives off a sense of mystery, superiority, and intimidation.
Besides encouraging vigilantism and causing victims to live in fear, cyberbullying has several other debilitating effects. I found it interesting to see that cyberbullying could cause appreciation for education to drop significantly. If cyberbullying was not discovered, and the victims did not seek help, they would exhibit signs that include “not wanting to attend school, lowering self-esteem, and partaking of alcohol or drugs” [7]. Another sad effect that stemmed from cyberbullying is suicide. People, especially students, undergo a high level of pressure, depression, and anger, after being taunted by cyberbullies [8]. Convinced that they have no escape routes or hope, they end up killing themselves out of frustration.
Needless to say, cyberbullying is a serious issue that cannot be easily resolved. However, if we take the time to educate ourselves and others, show more accountability for our actions, and strictly and closely monitor our behavior online, then cyberbullying will be more restrained.
