Cyber Aggression and Cyberbullying: Widening the Net

Abstract

There is growing attention on cyberbullying from media, schools, parents, researchers and policy makers, though disagreement still exists within the literature on both concept and definition. There is, however, some agreement on its associated features, such as intentional behaviour towards an individual or group. As dependency on the internet and electronic devices grows in terms of social interaction, so does a need to identify, understand, and intervene, in aggressive, hostile, and victimising situations. This chapter proposes an argument to widen the net when examining cyberbullying, through adopting the term ‘cyberaggression’, an inclusive term for the various forms of hostile, direct and indirect behaviour which occur in the online sphere. Examining these forms through the lens of cyberaggression will allow for a more holistic and unified approach to understanding victimisation in the online environment. This case is made with the support of theory and research from the fields of bullying and aggression, and has further implications for legislation, policy holders and researchers alike.