Cyberbullying Essay

Cyberbullying Essay Outline

I. Introduction

A. Bullying involves an imbalance of power between the victim and the bully.

B. Bullying is more than just isolated incidents of negative behavior; it requires repetitive behavior.

C. Cyberbullying occurs electronically, via the internet, cell phones, and social media.

II. Imbalance of power

A. Bullies have some type of power over victims.

B. There are different ways that bullies can exert power over victims.

1. Social power

2. Financial power

3. Sexual power

4. Group power

C. Bullying cannot be mutual, but bullies and victims can switch roles over time.

Cyberbullying Essay Titles

1. Cyberbullying: What Is It and How Do I Stop It? 

2. Is Being Mean Online Always Cyberbullying?

3. What Role Do Power Imbalances Play in Cyberbullying? 

Cyberbullying Essay Hooks

1. Cyberbullying combines all of the worst aspects of bullying and stalking, because the victim can never completely escape the bullying. 
2. Almost 15% of children report being cyberbullied each year. 

Cyberbullying Essay Thesis Statements

1. Cyberbullying can be differentiated from other types by looking for the presence of three characteristics: it occurs online, it involves an imbalance of power, and it is repetitive.
2. Bystanders who are trying to intervene in cyberbullying should look at the communication between the parties to see if the behavior is repetitive, whether there appears to be an imbalance of power between the parties, and if there is other bullying behavior that is occurring offline, as well.  
3. When investigating bullying claims, it is important to look at where the behavior is occurring, whether the behavior is repetitive, and if the behavior involves a power imbalance.

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Cyberbullying Essay Introductions

1. Most people have some idea what bullying means, though whether a person perceives behavior as bullying has a lot to do with that person’s own personal history with bullying.  For example, while many victims of bullying may be able to pick out the bullying behaviors, many perpetrators do not consider themselves bullies.  In addition, with the prevalence of anti-bullying and zero-tolerance campaigns, the term bullying has been expanded to include a number of behaviors that may be mean, but do not actually qualify as bullying.  This can be even more difficult when looking specifically at cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying is a subtype of bullying that occurs online.  It involves an imbalance of power between the victim and the perpetrator or perpetrators.  Finally, cyberbullying refers to repetitive behavior, rather than isolated incidents of mean or even abusive behavior.  
2. As with many other types of bullying, bystanders can play a powerful role in perpetrating or stopping cyberbullying.  While some types of cyberbullying may occur in a private setting, such as direct messages or emails, much cyberbullying occurs in a more public context.  Group texts, chatting applications, message boards, and social media are all popular public or semi-public venues where cyberbullying is common.  However, it can be difficult for bystanders to recognize and identify cyberbullying because these public communications often represent only a portion of the communications between a potential victim and their tormentor(s).  

Cyberbullying Essay Conclusions

1. Although cyberbullying is similar to other forms of bullying in terms of the relationship it creates between victim and bully, there are three components to cyberbullying that might not all exist in other bullying scenarios: it is repetitive, it involves an imbalance of power, and it occurs online.  While two of those elements exist in other bullying situations, the repetition and the power imbalance, the fact that it occurs online makes it easier for the bully to magnify the impact of his or her behaviors.  In addition, being online may also make it more difficult for the bully, the victim, or bystanders to recognize the behavior as bullying.  After all, the perception of whether behavior is acceptable or is bullying behavior depends on the personal experiences of the bullies, the victims, and the bystanders.  Many bullies do not identify their behavior as bullying, but, even more troubling, many bullies may acknowledge that their behavior is bullying, but fail to see the harm in it.  By demonstrating not only why bullying is bad, but also how cyberbullying exacerbates the impact of bullying, the hope is that people will reduce their bullying behaviors.
3. Although it can be difficult to intervene in any type of bullying scenario, bystanders who are trying to intervene in cyberbullying face even more challenges than the average would-be intervener.  Cyberbullying’s format makes it difficult to determine if the communications between the parties represent an isolated incident or a pattern of behavior.  In fact, the fact that they are online makes it difficult to determine the relationship between the parties at all and whether a comment that appears harsh, cruel, or mean is actually intended to hurt or is referencing an inside joke or other communication that only the parties understand.  Without the requisite imbalance of power, even ugly comments do not necessarily reflect bullying.  In addition, if behavior is not repetitive, even if it is outrageous and egregious, it probably does not qualify as bullying.  Despite those concerns, it is important for bystanders to be aware of what type of behavior constitutes cyberbullying and to be prepared to intervene to stop that bullying because cyberbullying’s very nature can make it very dangerous to the victims, while simultaneously making it harder to detect than in-person bullying.  

Cyberbullying Essay Resources 

Bazarova, Natalie.  (14 May 2018).  Key Questions in the Fight Against Cyberbullying.  Psychology Today.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-media-stories/201805/key-questions-in-the-fight-against-cyberbullying.  Accessed 16 July 2020.  

Ben-Joseph, Elena Pearl.  (April 2018).  Cyberbullying.  TeensHealth.  https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/cyberbullying.html.  Accessed 16 July 2020.

Scheff, Sue.  (29 November 2019).  Adult Cyberbullying Is More Common Than You Think. Psychology Today.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shame-nation/201911/adult-cyberbullying-is-more-common-you-think.  Accessed 16 July 2020.