Cyberbullying

Example: "If you experience cyberbullying, you should report it to a parent or teacher."

Cyberbullying involves harassing, embarrassing, or threatening a young person via cyberspace. It encompasses several different mediums, including the Web, e-mail, and cell phone communication. Cyberbullying can take place in many ways. Some examples include posting unflattering comments or pictures of another person online, sending lewd text messages, or spamming a person with unsolicited e-mails. It may also involve teaming up on a specific person and posting defamatory comments on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

If cyberbullying involves adults, it is typically referred to as cyber-harassment or cyberstalking.

First Published: 2009
Last Updated: September 9, 2009