Cyberbullying & Social Media Harm

Four out of ten middle schoolers have had their passwords stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account and sent communications posing as them (“Facts about Cyberbullying”). Not so surprisingly, this has a name in today’s age of cyberbullying, known as fraping. Cyberbullying has become a bigger problem in the world in the last few years thanks to the rise of social media and many online worlds.

The 5 W’s of Cyberbullying

Let’s talk through the What, Who, Where, When, and Why of Cyberbullying:

WHAT is Cyberbullying?

Firstly, to understand cyberbullying, it’s helpful to know what it is. It’s defined differently in each state’s law codes. However, a basic definition is as follows: the repeated use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person.

Cyberbullying isn’t an isolated event as for it to be deemed bullying, it must be
happening on a regular basis. If you would like to know if you or your child have been cyberbullied, you can visit HERE for the Arkansas definitions, and HERE for the Texas definitions.

WHO is Cyberbullied?

Next, it’s helpful to know who cyberbullying can happen to. The answer, simply put, is anybody really. One of our attorneys handling social media cases said “Anyone who is on the platforms a lot would be more likely to be cyberbullied.” However, a more in-depth answer would tell you that there are some groups of people who are more targeted than others.

The first heavily targeted group is going to be people who are from visibly different ethnic and racial backgrounds. People target kids and young adults in this category because they look different from everyone else so they are easy to get to. The next group of people heavily targeted is girls and young women.

Young women are targeted on the internet because of how much it’s pushed to try and fit in these days. A lot of girls try so hard to fit in and end up being targeted because of what they are willing to do in order to be in the ‘it’ crowd.

The final biggest group of targeted individuals is anybody that falls under the LGBTQ+ community.

People are always targeted for being different, and especially if they have differing views, they can be a major target for online bullies. There are of course so many others who are bullied online and under different umbrella categories, but these are the main three that are seen today.

WHEN Does Cyberbullying Happen Most Often?

Another thing needed for cyberbullying is a place and time. Now cyberbullying can start at any age when the internet is accessible. However, it is mainly seen to start around middle school and continue into junior and high school. It can start to digress as you get older and kids stop caring what others say or think about them, but when it first starts out, it runs rampant as it’s a new ‘trend’ that each generation must learn about the hard way.

WHERE Does Cyberbullying Happen?

Some might be wondering where cyberbullying takes place. Obviously, the internet is the main scope, but there are so many sides to the internet that it can happen anywhere since we now have the internet at our fingertips at any time of the day.

The main place we see cyberbullying is online on any social media. Some social media sites, like Yikyak, are anonymous, thus being a little more popular for bullying. However, places like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Snapchat are the most infamous cyber bullying sites due to content and chemical releases in the brain from notifications.

Also, websites with private chat rooms or public chat rooms are a huge endorsement for cyberbullying. Since these chat rooms are mostly anonymous, people don’t care who they attack (“Facts…).

The final big place we see cyberbullying is going to be any gaming site.

Online gaming, gaming on a console, or over headphones are hot spots for bad-mouthing of others and can get really bad if not watched by a parent/guardian.

WHY Do Kids Cyberbully?

There has always been the question(s) of “Why do they bully me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” Well, there are a couple of different answers to this.

The first is that the bully is having feelings of jealousy, fear, and distrust and they have decided to take it out on you, the bullied. It can be weird to have these feelings at certain ages and this is their way of dealing with it, instead of coping.

Another reason, this one not so much a reason as a decision, is because the bully wants respect or to feel cool or empowered; he/she also bullies in order to be seen as funny.

The biggest reason someone is a bully is because they themselves are being bullied at home. They adopt this behavior and bully others away from home in order to feel some type of control.

Signs of Cyberbullying

There can be a ton of things that you or your child/teen start to feel or ways to act when being cyberbullied (“Cyberbullying for Parents”). It can differ from person to person, but if you are wondering what signs you can look for in your child to see if they are being cyberbullied, here is a compiled list:

Feeling upset during or after using the internet.
Digital secrecy or wanting online privacy.
Locking themselves away in their room.
Withdrawal from family, friends, interests, hobbies, activities.
Avoidance (or trying to) of school or group gatherings.
Grade slippage or random anger outbursts.
Mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep changes.
Sudden uninterest in all internet and devices.
Nervous or jumpy around devices or notification noises.
And avoiding discussions about devices of any kind.

Effects of Cyberbullying

4 main areas are affected by cyberbullying; psychological, physical, emotional, and mental (Bergman). Your psychological effects are going to be one of the top damaging ones, just under physical. Victims under this category may experience negative emotions, feel isolated and alone, have low self-esteem, and find harmful habits to help them cope.

Physical effects are the most dangerous of the four as they affect a person’s health state. Victims can experience headaches, stomach aches, and sleeping problems, and may seek out dangerous ways of coping such as self-harm.

Mental effects are endless as they will continue on if help isn’t found. These include anxiety, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. These may even lead to death in extreme cases.

And finally, emotional effects can damage your personal relationships. It can lead to trust issues, non-socialization, depression, shame, guilt, and embarrassment. This was further proven when our social media case attorney commented “…cyberbullying would exacerbate any other mental problems the child was experiencing…”

What To Do If Your Child Is Being Bullied Online

There are several steps you can take in order to help if your child or someone you know is being cyberbullied.

Offer Support

First and foremost, make sure the victim is and feels safe. Make sure they understand they have your unconditional support and you both want the same thing; showing through word and action that you want to end the cyberbullying.

Listen

Next, talk with and listen to the victim. Make sure to communicate calmly, as panicking will only make it worse. Get all the facts about what exactly happened and the context in which it happened. Make it clear to the victim that you are on their side, by their side!

Collect Evidence

Collecting evidence is huge in this process. Screenshots, recordings, conversations, messages, pictures, videos, etc. all serve as a clear way to show proof if needed. Keep up with details as well like the location in which it happened, frequency, severity of harm, if there’s more than one person involved, or any witnesses that can help back you up.

Contact the School (if necessary)

Since everything is online, it can happen anywhere, so next, make sure to work with the victims’ school. Most, if not all, schools in the US have a bullying policy and there are sections about cyberbullying included. If the bully goes to the same school, make sure to contact administrators about issues. Everyone has a right to feel safe at school and the administrators can make sure of this.

Next, refrain from reaching out to the parents of the aggressor. All parents like to believe their child is innocent and can do no harm. When backed into a corner with allegations, a parent could become defensive and may not be receptive to the information given.

Be judicious in your approach if needed, to avoid any more drama.

Reach Out for Help

You can contact many people for additional help, including counselors for your child to talk things through with. If the harassment is based on any Title VII areas (race, sex, or disability) you can contact your nearest office of civil rights as it could be seen as a hate crime. And the final party to contact if it continues out of control is the police. You can take your evidence to them and open a case against the aggressor.

Stay Vigilant

Finally, after you’ve dealt with the situation, you can put measures and rules in place to prevent future cyberbullying. Privacy controls can be set up on most online content these days. These controls block anyone out who isn’t known or wanted. Also, encourage small talk so that major events don’t just seem to pop up out of nowhere (Hinduja/Patchin).

Arkansas Laws For Cyberbullying

If you feel like you have a case for cyberbullying but aren’t sure if anything can be done about the problem, you can always speak with a local attorney equipped to handle social media harm lawsuits.

There are no national laws, however, cyberbullying can be considered discriminatory harassment when based on some Title VII categories (religion, age, national origin, race, color, or sex).

For Arkansas residents, there are a couple of options to file a case under. The first is a Class B misdemeanor for cyberbullying. The second is a Class A misdemeanor if the victim is a school employee. And finally, you might have a case if doxing is involved. This could be a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B felony depending on the consequences. If doxing results in death or loss of $1 million+, it will be considered a Class B felony.

Texas residents don’t have as many options as their laws state that cyberbullying is only a Class B misdemeanor. It’s punishable by up to 180 days in jail; and a maximum fine of $2,000.

Can I File a Cyberbullying Lawsuit?

Yes, it’s possible to file a lawsuit if your child is being cyberbullied. It’s estimated that 60% of teens experience cyberbullying. But interestingly, the majority of teens blame schools, politicians, and social media platforms.

If you or your child has suffered harm due to social media use, our attorneys are here to help. Our law firm is actively filing lawsuits against social media platforms on behalf of children and adolescents in Arkansas.

Social media addiction lawsuits allege that companies including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, X, and others knowingly designed algorithms to lure adolescents into harmful addictions.

Click HERE to learn more about what it means to file a social media harm lawsuit.

List of Cyberbullying Definitions

Cyberbullying (Arkansas Definition): He or she transmits, sends, or posts a communication by electronic means with the purpose to frighten, coerce, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass another person; AND the transmission was in furtherance of severe, repeated, or hostile behavior toward another person (“2020 Arkansas Code..”).
Cyberbullying (Texas Definition): using electronic communication to intimidate, harass, or humiliate another person. It typically involved repeated conduct, including threatening, spreading rumors, or posting derogatory comments online (“Cyberbullying…”).
Cyberstalking: This is a type of cyberbullying that involves using electronic means to stalk, harass, or threaten someone, causing them emotional distress or fear for their safety.
Doxing: the action or the process of searching for and publishing private or identifying information about a particular individual on the internet, typically with malicious intent.
Fraping: taking control of someone’s social media account and changing it or posting without their consent.
Catfishing: The process of luring someone into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona.