Cyber-bullying is harassment that happens online.

It is when one person targets another person using interactive technologies (source: www.stopcyberbullying.com).

Here is the definition according to StopCyberbullying.org:

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Examples of cyber-bullying are found below in bold followed by specific examples and clarifications:

• Mean messages whether they are anonymous or signed: “I hate you. Everyone hates you.”

• Gossip: “Sally is a loser. I heard she fooled around with five boys Friday.”

• Pictures: Posted on someone’s social media page or sent via text.

• Video: “Watch Kevin lose his tennis match.”

• Creating a false webpage in someone else’s name: Posting negative and/or false material.

• Sharing of another’s private information: Including passwords.

• Sending 1000’s of texts: That qualifies as harassment.

• Blocking you from game-sites: Another person signs in under your name and then acts inappropriately, thereby blocking you from future use.

• Hacking into a person’s computer: Often using easily guessed-at passwords.

Cyber-bullying can happen in an email, a text message, a game, or on a social networking site. It can be direct or indirect by using other people to do the bullying. In the latter case, adults can even get involved (when an adult is involved, it is called cyber harassment). There was a case a few years ago of a young teen cyberbullying a neighbor and the parent of the teen became involved – the parent posted messages online to encourage the “victim” to kill himself. He did. Charges were pressed against both the teen and the parent.