Cyberbullying: 3 clues to recognize cyberbullying

In recent years, cyberbullying has become the problem that most affects children and adolescents around the world. In fact, in Spain 81% of children suffer this form of violence. In most of the cases, the cyberbullying has its origin inside the classrooms, but what could be a moment of tension in class, with the new technologies derives in a cyberbullying that transcends the walls of the school and sneaks in all the areas of the victim's life.

8 types of cyberbullying

According to studies conducted by Garaigordobil (2011), Kowalski, Limber and Agatston (2010), we can identify eight different types of cyberbullying.

- Dissemination of personal data. Certain personal data of the victim are made public, which could be trusted previously.
- Loss of respect through insults. Victims can be insulted through social networks, their email, etc.
- Verbal aggressions or harassment.The mobile, chats, forums, social networks, etc. can be used as means for harassment.
- Defamation: Degradation of the victim through false or invented information through websites, chats, social networks, emails, etc.
- Identity theft.Impersonation of the victim's identity through personal accounts to make cruel and aggressive comments on behalf of the victim.
- Blocking in the social network. Exclude the victim by blocking access to a certain social network in order to isolate it.
- Cyber ​​persecution. It is done by sending continuous messages to the mobile or email, or through the social network threatening, insulting the victim.
- Happy beating or happy slapping. It consists in spreading the recording of physical aggressions and then uploading them to the Internet or disseminating them through social networks.


3 clues to recognize cyberbullying

The identification of cyberbullying phases is key so that students can recognize that they are being cyber-bullying from the earliest stages of the problem and be able to stop this situation.

1. Teasing. The physical appearance of the minor or other personal characteristics are often the subject of teasing, which initially occur in a timely manner in the classroom or at recess, but then recur frequently to the point of receiving messages outside school hours that undermine the victim's morale.

2. Threats and blackmail. They turn the child into a very vulnerable person because they undermine their self-esteem and this generates greater introversion that is evident in their private environment. Although the student is aware of his situation, he is no longer able to externalize the problems. Therefore, in this phase it is common for stalkers to threaten the victim with situations that could occur in real life, both at school and outside, and even coerce them with photographs or other personal objects that could make them hurt.


3. Impersonation of identity. It happens when the stalker has already taken control of the victim's psychological control. Next, he also takes control of his social networks. In this way the ridicule of the child goes beyond the school to reach all their digital contacts. When the harassment goes viral, cyberbullying is already unstoppable.

To avoid reaching these extreme situations, and since the victim is aware of their harassment from the beginning of the problem, parents, guardians and teachers must learn to capture these signals and help the child to express their day-to-day experiences. Be alert if the child's social life is reduced and the frequent invitations to birthdays cease to occur, if he is excluded from extracurricular activities with his classmates or if he avoids comments and anecdotes from his daily life are the key to helping the environment the minor to be recognized as a victim of cyberbullying and together they can set the guidelines to stop and solve the problem.


Marisol Nuevo Espín
Advice: Always On, technological services company expert in digital security

Video: Two Women Explain Their Online Feud -- Dr. Phil


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