Who are the perpetrators of cyber bullying?

Answer 1

Although cyberbullying might appear to be simply another means used by "traditional" bullies to reach their target, the virtual attributes of the internet have fostered a new type of bully: someone who capitalizes on online anonymity to initiate bullying behaviour. Believing themselves to be anonymous, some young people feel free to commit acts online that they would never carry out in person. In addition, the frequency with which adolescents share online passwords provides perpetrators, when caught, with the ready excuse that someone else may have assumed their identity to send bullying messages. In addition to anonymity, the absence of visual and auditory feedback online can also fuel hurtful behaviour. According to Nancy Willard, from the Responsible Netizen Institute, this type of technology can affect students' ethical behaviour because they are not fully aware of the impact of their actions on others. This lack of feedback reduces feelings of empathy or remorse. "When people use technology, there is a lack of tangible feedback about the consequences of actions on others."[2] As such, students may write things online that they would never say in person because they feel removed from their own actions and from the person at the receiving end. As a student who participated in focus testing for Media Awareness Network's Young Canadians in a Wired World research commented: [With] the Internet, you can really get away with a lot more because I don't think a lot of people would have enough confidence to walk up to someone and be like, "I hate you, you're ugly." But over the Internet you don't really see their face or they don't see yours and you don't have to look in their eyes and see they're hurt.

Targets: In this lesson series the term "target" is used instead of "victim." The term "victim" implies powerlessness and passivity, whereas "target" is considered to be more neutral. Although there is no physical violence, cyberbullying may be more frightening to targets because there are, potentially, an unlimited number of witnesses. When perpetrators are anonymous, targets don't know which peers to watch out for or respond to - leading to feelings of helplessness. With no one to point to, targets may be less likely to file complaints. The targets' situation is compounded by the reality that the home, which traditionally offers respite to bullying, is no longer safe, with cyberbullying continuing on the home computer. Bystanders: This important group forms the social consensus for bullying behaviour - online and offline. In a March 2008 study of 2095 students in grades 6, 7, 10 and 11 conducted by the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, 28% reported having witnessed cyberbullying. Of this percentage: * 9% became involved in the bullying behaviour * 32% watched but didn't participate * 14% voiced their objection to the person doing the bullying * 21% tried to stop the bully * 11% left the online environment * 7% tried to befriend the bully, and * 7% reported the bully to someone who could help.[3] In general, the longer the bullying persists, the more likely it is that the number of witnesses who are willing to join in will increase.[4] For more info, check out this site: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/teaching_backgrounders/cyberbullying/cyberbullying_avatars_h1.cfm