Cyber Bullying vs Traditional Bullying

Running head: CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
Is Cyber bullying a Larger Social Problem than more traditional forms of Bullying?
Name of the student:
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1CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
Bullying in any form is not good for either of the involved parties. It is harmful to bullies
and the victims as well. It produces a list of negative consequences to either of the involved
parties. Some of the negative consequences for victims are poorer interpersonal relationships
with peers, symptoms of anxiety & depression, reduced self-esteem, suicidal thoughts and social
withdrawal (Thomas, Connor and Scott 2015). On the other hand, bullies are also contaminated
with a list of negative consequences like general aggression, substance use and rule-breaking &
delinquent behaviours. It means that both bullies and victims are at risk to develop the mental
and social health (Thomas, Connor and Scott 2015). This particular study is aimed at conducting
an argumentative essay on the chose essay topic. The study also takes the help from the
“Assignment 1” wherever it is needed.
Thesis statement: “It is difficult to conclude or select the deadliest form of bullying out of
cyber bullying and traditional bullying”
In the light of the thesis statement, the current essay is aimed at establishing a fact that it
is challenging to conclude the most severe form of bullying out of cyber bullying and the
traditional bullying. According to Smit and Scherman (2016), Cyber bullying and traditional
bullying is both similar in severity; however, differ just in the mode of delivery. It means that
there are differences in between the mode of delivery; however, the level of severity remains the
same. This is true to an extent as there are no differences evidently in the appearance of either of
the bullying type. However, they differ from each other in terms of resisting the bullying
activities. As argued by Modecki et al. (2014), cyber bullying is related to PCs, Smartphones,
Tablets and other technological gadgets. This means that the sources of the orientation of such
activities are the technological gadgets. Bullies use these resources to bully others in the variety
of forms like uploading a post from other’s personal Facebook account, sending the threatening

2CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
emails, cyberstalking, fraping, fake profiles, dissing, catfishing and others. Some of these cyber
bullying types cannot be resisted and are really threatening. That list includes catfishing, fake
profiles, fraping and cyberstalikng. These activities as according to Modecki et al. (2014) are
very challenging to get rid of it. However, the authors have supported their point stating a fact
that the numerous kinds of cyber bullying activities can be controlled or stopped by the victims.
Even the dangerously stated catfishing, fraping, fake profiles and cyberstalking can be resisted if
handed properly while also seeking help from parents and legal system. However, the traditional
form of bullying such as being verbally or physically attacked is difficult to resist. The victims
are targeted on a regular basis and are even threatened not to disclose the matter to their families,
the school's administration and others.
As opined by Forssell (2016), face-to-face bullying is more severe than cyber bullying.
This is because cyber bullying can be avoided to a possible extent by removing the different
existing accounts. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to avoid bullies in schools as at the
minimum level students or victims are required to complete the one complete session before
opting the other option. Additionally, it is never guaranteed that switching over to other schools
will provide the needed solution. Brewer and Kerslake (2015) have argued that cyber bullying is
worse than traditional bullying for a fact that anonymity is an essential element of cyber
bullying. The biggest difference between cyber bullying and traditional bullying is the freedom
that internet provides to the offender the extra degree of the guard. Brewer and Kerslake (2015)
have also supported the fact by stating that cyber bullying can happen several times from any
place whereas traditional bullying is an occasional phenomenon. Smith (2018) has further added
that cyber bullying cases can be viral in no time. Ramely and Ahmad (2017) have argued that
few of cyber bullying incidents that go viral can also have its origin in face-to-face bullying. It

3CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
can be the consequence of that physical bullying instead. This means face-to-face bullying can
also go viral.
According to Coyne et al. (2017), fear of loss is more in the online world than traditional
or face-to-face bullying. This is quite common with the school children who are dependent on
their parents for pocket money, the access to several electronic gadgets and others. They
according to Coyne et al. (2017) live in a fear that they may lose their electronic gadgets if they
report their parents the cyber bullying cases. Hence, few school children keep on tolerating such
bullying attacks and rarely dare to take an action. They find themselves helpless to get a way out
of it. Holfeld and Leadbeater (2015) have also gone in favour of cyber bullying by stating that
some victims who are starters, they fail to answer questions like why they have been targeted or
who is the person in concern. Pabian and Vandebosch (2016) have also supported the fact that
cyber bullying is worse than traditional bullying as it is very easy for bullies to become cruel on
the internet due to their hidden identity and victim's incapability to identify the bullies. On the
other hand, bullies in case of traditional bullying are easily identifiable and that victims can also
report to the most trusted person about the bullying incident. Victims of traditional bullying can
get the support from senior teachers and the administrative executives in schools. Parents can
also support their children by educating them the way to get out of bullying activities and also by
reporting the same to higher officials in schools.
Therefore, it can be summarised that concluding the most severe form of bullying out of
traditional bullying and cyber bullying is extremely difficult. As stated in this study, few authors
are in favour of a fact that cyber bullying is severe than traditional bullying in regards to its
impacts on the victims. On the other hand, many authors have gone in favour of traditional
bullying and have concluded traditional bullying as more severe than cyber bullying.

4CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
References
Brewer, G. and Kerslake, J., 2015. Cyberbullying, self-esteem, empathy and
loneliness. Computers in human behavior, 48, pp.255-260.
Coyne, I., Farley, S., Axtell, C., Sprigg, C., Best, L. and Kwok, O., 2017. Understanding the
relationship between experiencing workplace cyberbullying, employee mental strain and job
satisfaction: a dysempowerment approach. The International Journal of Human Resource
Management, 28(7), pp.945-972.
Forssell, R., 2016. Exploring cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying in working life–
Prevalence, targets and expressions. Computers in Human Behavior, 58, pp.454-460.
Holfeld, B. and Leadbeater, B.J., 2015. The nature and frequency of cyber bullying behaviors
and victimization experiences in young Canadian children. Canadian Journal of School
Psychology, 30(2), pp.116-135.
Modecki, K.L., Minchin, J., Harbaugh, A.G., Guerra, N.G. and Runions, K.C., 2014. Bullying
prevalence across contexts: A meta-analysis measuring cyber and traditional bullying. Journal of
Adolescent Health, 55(5), pp.602-611.
Pabian, S. and Vandebosch, H., 2016. An investigation of short-term longitudinal associations
between social anxiety and victimization and perpetration of traditional bullying and
cyberbullying. Journal of youth and adolescence, 45(2), pp.328-339.
Ramely, A.B. and Ahmad, Y., 2017. Attributors of Workplace Bullying: Cleaning Workforces’
Perspective. Journal of Administrative Science Special Edition: Socio-Economic Issue, 14(3).

5CYBER BULLYING VS TRADITIONAL BULLYING
Smit, B. and Scherman, V., 2016. A case for relational leadership and an ethics of care for
counteracting bullying at schools. South African Journal of Education, 36(4), pp.1-9.
Smith, P.K., 2018. Commentary: Types of bullying, types of intervention: reflections on
Arseneault (2018). Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 59(4), pp.422-423.
Thomas, H.J., Connor, J.P. and Scott, J.G., 2015. Integrating traditional bullying and
cyberbullying: challenges of definition and measurement in adolescents–a review. Educational
Psychology Review, 27(1), pp.135-152.