Report: Evaluating Reasons for Cyberbullying Legislation Introduction

This report evaluates the reasons for the introduction of new legislation to address the growing problem of cyberbullying. It explores the definition and impact of cyberbullying, highlighting its prevalence among teenagers and the role of social media. The report delves into the negative consequences for victims, including low self-esteem, depression, and mental health issues. It examines existing legislation such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Malicious Communication Act 1988, and provides a case study of cyberbullying leading to suicide. The report recommends the implementation of stricter laws, including age restrictions on mobile phone usage, to mitigate the harmful effects of cyberbullying and protect vulnerable individuals. The conclusion summarizes the severity of cyberbullying and the importance of legal interventions.

Evaluate the reasons for the introduction
of new legislation to deal with the
problem of cyber bullying

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
LO1 .................................................................................................................................................1
Argument in context of cyberbullying.........................................................................................1
LO2 .................................................................................................................................................2
Argument in context of reflection................................................................................................2
LO3..................................................................................................................................................2
Case related to cyberbullying.......................................................................................................2
Recommendation.........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Cyberbullying means using online technology for the purpose of hurting someone else
emotion. It is also known as online bullying. In addition, this illegal activity is increasing among
the teenagers. It includes harass people on the internet by posting unwanted pictures or videos
through social media (Whittaker and Kowalski, 2015).It can also be defined as by repetition of
same behaviour for longer period of time. Victims of cyberbullying suffer from low self esteem,
negative emotion response, frustration, depression etc.
Report will include legislation that is being used to deal with the problem of
cyberbullying.
MAIN BODY
LO1
Argument in context of cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is an illegal practise that is common nowadays among teenagers as they
are more addicted towards use of social media networking.
According to the Waasdorp and Bradshaw, 2015 cyberbullying is the process that deal
with the use of electronic items like internet, mobile phones, email etc. This activity is common
nowadays among the teenagers who are addicted of using mobile phone. It is a repeated
behaviour of people for harming other people and hurting its emotion. Online websites and
mobile applications are the main reason for cyberbullying. It is a criminal offence that will lead
to destroy the life of people. Through social media cyberbullying is increasing day by day and
has a bad impact on the behaviour of people. Some countries is having laws to stop this practise
of cyberbullying through which it can be reduced at certain extent.
Brewer and Kerslake, 2015 stated that victims of the cyberbullying is suffered from the
low self esteem, depression, frustration etc. Cyberbullying is comprises of two types such as
online and traditional bullying. As online bullying is being done through use of social media
networking while traditional bullying is done through face to face interaction between people.
Cyberbullying is of many types like bombing, slandering, impersonation, defamation and
flaming. It is a problem that mostly occur in the countries where teenagers are more addicted to
the mobile phone. As cyberbullying has a bad impact on the mental health of the people as they
are suffering from the problem of depression. Mostly people is having of using social networking
sites such as Facebook, twitter etc.
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LO2
Argument in context of reflection
In my opinion cyberbullying is a crime that has an adverse effect on the teenagers of the
country. It is growing day by day as more use of internet lead to cyberbullying. Through this
victims of cyberbullying is affected from mental issues as they lose their esteem and always
remain in depression. They feel alone and nobody is their for care of them. It affects the various
aspect of human behaviour through different practice that is being out by cyberbullying. It is
similar to the traditional bullying only the difference is that of face to face interaction with
people. As there are legislation to reduce the impact of cyberbullying are protection from
harassment act 1997, Malicious communication act 1988 etc. Harassment act helps in protecting
people from harassment such as stalking, racial harassment or through any other social media
networking. This includes different sections that helps in prohibit cyberbullying practice. Section
1(1A) prohibit the harassment of more than two people. Malicious act prohibit the sending of
letter that cause tension and anxiety among the people by means of communication.
I think proper precautions is to be taken for stop this type of cyberbullying practice in the
country as online and traditional bullying both are harmful for the people. Traditional bullying is
more harmful as person may harassed in front of many people while in online bullying the
person is unknown as it is practised as online so there are less consequences occurred in this type
of bullying(Patchin and Hinduja, 2015). Human behaviour is changed through this type of illegal
practise.
LO3
Case related to cyberbullying
A case of Panama city, Florida where two 12 year old students was arrested for the sake
of doing cyberbullying with the girl named as Gabriella so she commits suicide because of this
practise. This was take place on 10th January. Police did not release the names of that two
students as they are minors. By analysing this case police found that this practise was come into
existence through use of social media sites and several mobile phones are being collected from
them. Police called their parents and told them to confess their fault (Olweus and Limber
2018).This case creates very bad impact on the younger generation as they are more involved in
this type of activity. Cyberbullying is great impact on children as females are more involved in
this type of activity. Children are more involved into these type of mischievous activity. These
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type of activity is causing misbehave in the children and mostly school students are more
affected of using mobile phones and addicted to play games that will have an impact on their
lives.
Recommendation
From the above study it can be recommended that cyberbullying is to be banned as most
of the students are affected from it and may lead to death sometimes. Proper legislations is to be
made to stop this type of activity among the children. This will affect the mental health that will
have an affect on the studies of students. A law is to be made to stop this type of activity as
students below 18 years of age is not allowed to use mobile phones that will help in decreasing
the impact of cyberbullying.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that cyberbullying is a practise that create bad
impact on the health of the people as well ongoing school students. It is the serious issue and
having long term effect on victims. Through changes in technological also lead to increase in
cyberbullying and lead to death of people. In survey it is found that females are more involved in
this type of cyberbullying activity as compared to males. There are legislations that will help in
prohibit cyberbullying.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Brewer, G. and Kerslake, J., 2015. Cyberbullying, self-esteem, empathy and
loneliness. Computers in human behavior. 48.pp.255-260.
Olweus, D. and Limber, S.P., 2018. Some problems with cyberbullying research. Current
opinion in psychology.19. pp.139-143.
Patchin, J.W. and Hinduja, S., 2015. Measuring cyberbullying: Implications for
research. Aggression and Violent Behavior.23. pp.69-74.
Waasdorp, T.E. and Bradshaw, C.P., 2015. The overlap between cyberbullying and traditional
bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health.56(5). pp.483-488.
Whittaker, E. and Kowalski, R.M., 2015. Cyberbullying via social media. Journal of School
Violence.14(1). pp.11-29.
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