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Cyberbullying: Playground Politics (and Worse) in Cyberspace

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Bullying and Victimization Across the Lifespan

Abstract

Cyberbullying is the act of using electronic means (e.g., e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, websites, gaming sites, cellular phones) to threaten, humiliate, insult, exclude, or intimidate others. However, given unique aspects of virtual communication (e.g., lack of vocal intonation, facial expression, body language) it is sometimes difficult to identify cyberbullying. Further, the three central features of traditional bullying (e.g., bullying not using electronic means), repetition, power imbalance, and intent to harm are complicated by the nuances of cyberbullying. This chapter discusses the definition of cyberbullying as well as defining the roles in the cyberbullying dynamic and explaining the different methods (e.g., exclusion, flaming) and means (e.g., text messaging, e-mail) used to cyberbully. The devastating consequences of cyberbullying on cybervictims, cyberbullies, and cyberbully-victims are discussed as well as the commonalties between cyberbullying and traditional bullying.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Paul R. Smokowski MSW, Ph.D.

  2. Rhode Island College, Providence, RI, USA

    Caroline B. R. Evans

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  1. Paul R. Smokowski MSW, Ph.D.
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  2. Caroline B. R. Evans
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Smokowski, P.R., Evans, C.B.R. (2019). Cyberbullying: Playground Politics (and Worse) in Cyberspace. In: Bullying and Victimization Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20293-4_5

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