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What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying refers to the use of technology—social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, and more—to bully or harass someone. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be constant, occurring 24/7, and the anonymity of the internet can embolden bullies to act more aggressively. Examples of cyber bullying include sending mean or threatening messages, posting or sharing harmful content or images and spreading false information or rumours.
Types of Cyber Bullying
- Virtual mobbing or dog-piling: Encouraging other people to harass someone on social media
- Doxxing: Publishing someone’s personal information
- Trolling: Posting messages which are intended to provoke an angry response
- Baiting: Accusing someone of being involved in sexual activity
- Cyber-stalking: Repeated use of online messaging to frighten or harass
- Spamming: Sending a large number of unwanted messages
- Flaming: Abusing someone in a live chat forum.
The Impact of Cyberbullying on Students
Cyberbullying can have serious and lasting effects on a student’s mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that students who are cyberbullied are more likely to suffer academically. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or even withdraw from social and academic activities.
Effects of Cyberbullying
- Emotionally: Increased feelings of sadness, loneliness, helplessness, shame and anger
- Physically: Difficulty sleeping or eating, stomach s and headaches
- Academically: Struggling to concentrate in lectures, focus on coursework or revision and missing lectures, seminars are labs.
- Mentally: A rise in anxiety and depression (e.g. low mood, low energy and losing interest in hobbies). This can sometimes lead to isolation.
How to Recognize Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can sometimes be difficult to identify, especially when it’s happening in private messages or subtle forms like exclusion or rumour-spreading. As students, it’s important to be aware of the signs, whether it’s happening to you or a friend.
Signs Someone is Being Cyberbullied:
- Sudden changes in mood or behaviour after being online.
- Avoiding school, social events, or digital communication.
- A drop in academic performance or engagement.
- Deleting social media accounts or staying offline unexpectedly.
How You Can Protect Yourself Online
- Do not post personal information such as your home address or the password anywhere online
- Only give your mobile phone number to your close friends and relatives
- Be careful about posting images of yourself or friends
- Learn how to block messages or filter spam messages so that you do not receive them in the future
- Adjust your privacy settings on social media accounts so that only friends and relatives can see your information.
What to Do if You Are Being Cyberbullied
There are steps you can implement to minimize the chances of being cyberbullied or accidentally contributing to bullying behaviour online. Making your profiles digital will limit who can see your post or interact with you. If you’re experiencing cyberbullying, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and help is available. It’s essential to take steps to protect yourself while seeking support from trusted individuals or organizations.
Steps to Take:
- Don’t retaliate: Responding with anger or bullying back can escalate the situation.
- Collect evidence: Take screenshots or save messages as evidence as this can help if you report the incident.
- Block the bully: Use social media settings to block or mute the person involved.
- Report the behaviour: Most social platforms allow you to report harassment or abuse, and many universities have protocols for handling cyberbullying cases.
- Seek help: If you believe you are being cyber bullied, please reach out to the Union’s Advice Service by email advice@brunel.ac.uk or contacting student support
How to Support Someone Who is Being Cyberbullied
If you see a friend or classmate being cyberbullied, please be an active bystander. Often, people who are bullied feel isolated and afraid, so showing empathy and offering practical support is crucial. For more information on being a supportive ally or active bystander please check out the active bystander campaign page.
Ways to Help:
- Reach out: Let them know you are there to listen and support them without judgment.
- Encourage them to speak up: Suggest they talk to a trusted adult or counsellor about what’s happening.
- Report the bullying: If you witness cyberbullying, report it on social media platforms or to a university staff member. You can report bullying anonymously through Brunel’s Report & Support feature. - https://reportandsupport.brunel.ac.uk/
- Be a positive role model: Show kindness and stand up against bullying in all forms.
Support for Victims
Under the Harassment Act 1997, cyber bullying can be a criminal offence, if the bulling causes alarm or distress to the victim. It can be can be considered ‘grossly offensive’ (Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003). If the bullying involves threats of violence or harassment, it may be worth reporting to the police.
- Police – If the bulling includes violence, theft, repeated harassment or hate crime, call 111 or 999 if you’re in immediate danger.
- National Bulling Helpline – [ https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/cyberbullying.html ] – If you are bullied and would like to speak to someone, please call the National Bullying Helpline on 0300 323 0169 or 0845 22 55 787
- Bullying UK – [ https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying ] – Bullying UK is a part of Family Lives. Bullying UK provide advice and support to anyone affected by divorce.
- Ditch the Label – [https://www.ditchthelabel.org/] – Ditch the Label is global youth charity, that provides advice and support to people aged 12-25 years old. They help people struggling with things like mental health, relationships, bullying or identity.
- The Cybersmile Foundation – [ https://www.cybersmile.org/ ] – The Cybersmile Foundation provide cyberbullying support and advice. Please email or call 0203 5983 898
- Childline – [ https://www.childline.org.uk/] If you’re under 19, you can confidentially call 0800 1111, chat online or email about any problem.
- SHOUT - Shout provides free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis. Text SHOUT to 85258.
- Papyrus – [ https://www.papyrus-uk.org/ ] - Papyrus is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. If you having thoughts of suicide please either call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Samaritans [ https://www.samaritans.org/ ] – Samaritans is a listening service for individuals in distress. If you would like to speak to someone please call 116 123 or visit the website to chat online, write an email jo@samaritans.org or send a letter to Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
References
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school
https://www.unicef.org/eca/cyberbullying-what-it-and-how-stop-it#:~:text=When%20bullying%20happens%20online%20it%20can%20feel%20as,or%20losing%20interest%20in%20the%20things%20you%20love
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/cyberbullying.html
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/bullying-cyberbullying/
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying
https://saferinternet.org.uk/online-issue/online-bullying#:~:text=Don%27t%20reply,you%20or%20a%20trusted%20adult.
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/cyberbullying.html
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/bullying-and-cyberbullying/
https://lawstuff.org.uk/online-safety/cyber-bullying/