Cyberbullying, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Cyberbullying is use of information and communication tools to perpetuate intentional or deliberate, repeated behavior with ill motives of causing harm to others. Until recently this has not been a subject of discussion albeit heartedly because it was not all that serious. But with the advent of the internet and subsequent advancement of technological tools like notebooks, tablets and mobile phones, cyberbullying has evolved to a very challenging issue in our lives now more than ever before (Smith, 2009).

Negative effects of cyber bullying

The effects that cyberbullying in individuals greatly differs from one person to another. This is dependent on a number of factors like age, experience, knowledge, emotional maturity among many other variables. This is because we all perceive what happens around us very differently (Smith, 2009).

Smith goes further to indicate that physical effects that have been reported include attempts to harm one self, physical harm and even suicide cases have been reported in some extreme cases! Psychologically bullying through social networking, have been known to bring about low self esteem, psychosomatic symptoms and even withdraw feelings. In fact the effect can be even far outreaching because social networking sites can reach a wider audience over very short time.

There are other harms of cyberbullying that are indirect or are just consequences of the same. One is the fact that it can lead to one dropping out of school (if one is schooling) or from work. This lead to poor performance in whatever occupation an individual is involved in.

The ability to reach a wider audience, more enduring nature of written word makes the matters even worse. Thus there is an urgent need for us to seek all possible ways to protect ourselves from this new wave of crime.

Reference

Peter Smith (2009). An investigation in to cyberbullying, its forms, awareness and impact, and the relationship between age and gender in cyber bullying. Oxford university press, London.