Cyber-bullying: Literature Review and Social Marketing Plan

Running head: CYBERBULLYING
Cyber-bullying
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

1CYBERBULLYING
Part 1: Literature Review on “Cyber-bullying”
Cyber crime is an unlawful activity where the computer becomes a tool or a target is used
for the creation of cyber threat and cyber terrorism. This is because of disruptive activities in
cyber space with the major intention of increasing social, ideological, political or similar
objectives. These are done either to make a person afraid or to fool a person. “Cyber-bullying is
nothing but the use of information and communication technologies to give trouble to others by
sending of messages, emails or more.” (Notar, Padgett & Roden, 2013) The material of cyber
threats can range from anything be it texts or emails or discussion groups, message boards chats
or phones. The cyber threats can be either direct or indirect threats which can be distressing
material. This might lead to the belief that the writer is upset emotionally or might have thoughts
of harming people or leading to committing suicide (Hinduja & Patchin, 2014).
The advancement of technology has made several things possible which were
unimaginable earlier. The progression of technology is equated with the advancement of human
societies. There have been several developments in human societies which have helped make
several advancements but there have been several negative happenings as well. Due to the
internet, there has been the existence of cyber-bullying which would not have been possible
earlier at the time there was no internet. The word “cyber-bullying” was not prevalent even
before a decade. The problem however has become immensely severe today. There is no need
for the cyber bullies to be strong or fast or best in any sense, it is enough for them to have access
to the internet and need to have some sort of a gadget to terrorize (Kowalski et al., 2014).
It is possible for anyone to become a cyber bully and such people usually do not posses
much worries regarding having face to face confrontations with the people whom they target.

2CYBERBULLYING
The double edged nature of the modern technology has led to the emergence and immense
growth of the concept of cyber bullying. This leads to severe psychological impacts on the
people who are targeted. There have been instances where people have been suffering from
depression. They have been situations where people have not been able to come out from their
homes into the open due to the negative impact it has made on them. The major victims of cyber
bullying are school children and kids who are targeted as an extension of their bullying in class.
Therefore it is necessary for the teachers to ensure that the negative implications of bullying are
nipped in the bud and it is discouraged vehemently in school. In order to stop such practices, it
needs to be ensured that the curriculum includes the negative impacts which cyber bullying can
have on children and their minds (Slonje, Smith & FriséN, 2013). It needs to be ensured that
there are holistic relations in the peer groups and also at schools and primary education
institutions to develop a proper level of awareness regarding the consequences of cyber-bullying.
The virtual interactions need not be considered as fantasy as it causes young people to remain
engaged with them.