Introduction
Cyberbullying is one of the most important issues in modern society. It also remains to be the hardest to solve because it is perpetuated through the internet which is increasingly becoming part of people’s lives. Jun (2020) noted that the internet creates an illusion of impunity. In essence, Cyberbullying as a topic is important because it targets adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and women: they are the most vulnerable groups (Abaido, 2020). The same views were echoed in Wang et al.’s (2020) study. The authors noted that young people have the most exposure to Cyberbullying.
History of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying traces its origin in the 1990s following the invention of the internet and the subsequent introduction of personal computers. However, the issue did not gain attraction, especially from researchers until the early 2000s. During this period, many teenagers had gained access to cell phones as well as owning social media accounts: this paved way for Cyberbullying. The issue became prevalent in 2007 following the death of Megan Meier-she died after being harassed on Facebook (Cohen-Almagor, 2020). The case of Jessica Logan is often cited as the first instance of Cyberbullying via mobile phone.
Impact of Cyberbullying on Society
Cyberbullying is a major issue of concern to society due to technology. The issue is considered the leading cause of teen suicide. According to Weinstein et al. (2021), around 70 percent of teenagers own a mobile phone and use social media: out of this percentage, 20 percent are victims of Cyberbullying and have suicidal thoughts. Another impact of Cyberbullying on society revolves around mental health problems (Kwan et al. 2020). For instance, victims of Cyberbullying through insults and harassment often struggle with negative thoughts and depression which are a burden to society.
Cross-Cultural Comparison
People are more likely to engage in cyberbullying behavior depending on their cultural background. For instance, in the American cultural context, people are expected to behave according to an independent self-contractual: one is viewed as a unique individual (Shohoudi Mojdehi et al., 2019). However, in the Japanese cultural context, people are expected to behave according to an interdependent self-construal. For instance, individuals of American origin are more likely to get influenced by situational contexts compared to those in Japan. In other words, individuals from the U.S. would engage in cyberbullying from those from Japan.
How a Policy Issue Impacts Cyberbullying
The policy can be used for several functions such as preventing undesirable behaviors. According to Milosevic and Vladisavljevic (2020), children are aware of policies that restrict Cyberbullying. An example of such a policy is where, “cyber-bullies shall face a penalty of fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000, or imprisonment between six months to one year or both”. This policy strives to ensure people are encouraged to change their behaviors by becoming responsible citizens. Similarly, the policy requires them to be accountable for their actions, especially those related to Cyberbullying.
Conclusion
Digital communication has changed the way children interact with each other. Many cyberbullies, aided by the advancement of technology, are adopting sophisticated means of harassing their victims. For instance, some of them are now using outing which involves openly sharing personal and private information. It has become a common trend among teens to forward intimate private information to others (Perasso et al., 2021). Another trend is the use of flaming which involves sending aggressive text messages to victims. These future trends have adverse health effects since they allow perpetrators to cross personal boundaries.
References
Abaido, G. M. (2020). Cyberbullying on social media platforms among university students in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 407-420.
Cohen-Almagor, R. (2020). Cyberbullying, Moral responsibility, and social networking: Lessons from the Megan Meier Tragedy. European Journal of Analytic Philosophy, 16(1), 75-98.
Jun, W. (2020). A study on the cause analysis of cyberbullying in Korean adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 4648-4657.
Kwan, I., Dickson, K., Richardson, M., MacDowall, W., Burchett, H., Stansfield, C., Brunton, G., Sutcliffe, K., & Thomas, J. (2020). Cyberbullying and children and young people’s mental health: a systematic map of systematic reviews. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(2), 72-82.
Milosevic, T., & Vladisavljevic, M. (2020). Norwegian children’s perceptions of effectiveness of social media companies’ cyberbullying policies: an exploratory study. Journal of Children and Media, 14(1), 74-90.
Perasso, G., Carone, N., Lombardy Group 2014, H. B. I. S. A. C., & Barone, L. (2021). Written and visual cyberbullying victimization in adolescence: Shared and unique associated factors. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18(5), 658-677.
Shohoudi Mojdehi, A., Leduc, K., Shohoudi Mojdehi, A., & Talwar, V. (2019). Examining cross-cultural differences in youth’s moral perceptions of cyberbullying. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(4), 243-248.
Wang, M. J., Yogeeswaran, K., Andrews, N. P., Hawi, D. R., & Sibley, C. G. (2019). How common is cyberbullying among adults? Exploring gender, ethnic, and age differences in the prevalence of cyberbullying. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(11), 736-741.
Weinstein, E., Kleiman, E. M., Franz, P. J., Joyce, V. W., Nash, C. C., Buonopane, R. J., & Nock, M. K. (2021). Positive and negative uses of social media among adolescents hospitalized for suicidal behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 87 (3), 63-73.