Introduction to Sociology: Cyberbullying Assignment Analysis

This assignment analyzes the sociological relevance of cyberbullying via social media, focusing on an academic journal article that explores the increasing cases of cyberbullying, particularly among adolescents and young people. The assignment summarizes the article, highlighting the devastating mental health effects on targets and the role of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. It then delves into the sociological significance of cyberbullying, framing it as a 21st-century issue impacting online interactions and the health of victims. The assignment further applies functionalist theory to understand cyberbullying, arguing that it may serve a function in society by allowing individuals to express feelings or problems, thus providing emotional release for both perpetrators and victims. References are provided to support the analysis.

Running head: CYBERBULLYING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
Cyberbullying Via Social Media
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Summary of the Article
(Whittaker, E., & Kowalski, R. M. (2015). Cyberbullying via social media. Journal of
School Violence, 14(1), 11-29.)
In recent years, there has been a great rise in the cases of cyberbullying. One of the
most common avenues of cyberbullying is social media. It is worth noting that in order to
understand the issue of cyberbullying, it is important to understand the main targets. There
exists evidence to show that the main targets of cyberbullying are either adolescents or young
people. Some research has been carried out to determine how the targets of cyberbullying
perceive this form of bullying on social media. Bullying that occurred between peers who
know each other has been considered to be the most negative. On the other hand, aggressive
comments that were exchanged between people who know each other through online means
only was considered the least negative. Cyberbullying has been found to have devastating
mental health effects on the targets (Whittaker and Kowalski, 2015). In addition, it affects
how people interact with others. This is mainly in a negative way. The main avenues that are
used for cyberbullying include Facebook and Twitter. This might be because most young
people use these two social media sites. It is important to note that aggression perpetrated
through social media has raised an alarm and there is a need for action. One of the best ways
to curb this menace is to ensure that all who are found culpable face stern measures. The
government should formulate appropriate policies geared toward eradicating cyberbullying.
Sociological Relevance of the Article
Cyberbullying on social media has increasingly become a social issue because it
raises serious questions concerning techno ethics (Aboujaoude, Savage, Starcevic and
Salame, 2015). It is worth noting that most adolescents and young people communicate
through social media. The issue of cyberbullying is therefore sociologically relevance in the

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21st century as it revolves around the main avenue of communication for adolescents and
young people. It is through the online social interactions, that teasing and harassment occur
(cyberbullying). There exists evidence to show that victims of cyberbullying are likely to
have poor physical, emotional and mental health. In addition, they are also likely to perform
poorly in class. Cyberbullying must, therefore, be sociologically significant as it occurs
through social relations and has the ability to influence the kind of relations that a person will
have with others. Modern sociologists have ventured into the area of cyberbullying with the
intention of carrying out appropriate research. The research is focusing on the main causes of
cyberbullying. After the causes are identified, it will be possible to find solutions to this
problem. Hopefully, cyberbullying will be eliminated in the future.
Functionalism
There has been an argument put across that without bullying in schools and other
spheres of life, society may fall out of place (Patchin and Hinduja, 2015). This is because
people might not be aware of who is the boss/ leader and who is not. It has been said that
words can cause emotional and psychological pain. There are two factors that may make
teasing bullying. One of these factors is when the teasing is done repetitively. The second
factor is when the teasing is done with the intention of hurting someone. Arguing from a
sociological point of view, one may conclude that bullying exists because it is functional in
nature. This is a possible explanation. A person who is perpetrating bullying is doing so
because it is functional to them. It is functional in the sense that these people can show their
feelings to the victim through acting in a manner that is mean. When they perpetrate the act
of bullying, the people who do this achieve some emotional releasement for they have made
their feelings known to the victim. Bullying is sometimes done to express the problems that a
person is going through (Olweus and Limber, 2018). The perpetrator feels relieved when they
learn that they are not the only ones suffering, but also the victims.

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References

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Whittaker, E., & Kowalski, R. M. (2015). Cyberbullying via social media. Journal of
School Violence, 14(1), 11-29.
Aboujaoude, E., Savage, M. W., Starcevic, V., & Salame, W. O. (2015).
Cyberbullying: Review of an old problem gone viral. Journal of adolescent health, 57(1), 10-
18.
Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2015). Measuring cyberbullying: Implications for
research. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 23, 69-74.
Olweus, D., & Limber, S. P. (2018). Some problems with cyberbullying research.
Current opinion in psychology, 19, 139-143.