By Zoë Wright

At WCI Technology Solutions, we take Internet Safety very seriously, because we want everyone to be able to enjoy the web and all of its resources to their fullest extent. The Internet has so much to offer everyone, and it has become a wonderful tool that many of honestly take for granted today. Our world has changed so rapidly since the Internet’s birth, and while this has brought many new and positive insights and platforms, it’s also come with its fair share of negatives.

While there is an abundance of these negatives that we could talk about – and have been talking about throughout June in honor of National Internet Safety Month – we want this article to focus on one particular negative change that has truly become an alarming problem in our society: cyberbullying.

Some might be surprised to realize that cyberbullying is a problem that not only affects youth and children, but also adults (about 40% of US adults report having personally experienced some form of cyberbullying). Often when adults experience cyberbullying, though, society tends to label it as harassment or online stalking, instead, but it still belongs in the category of cyberbullying. When all ages are combined, about 36.5% of people feel that they have been cyberbullied at some point in their lifetime, and about 17.4% have reported it happening in just the last month. These numbers are more than double what they were in 2007. When we realize what all counts as cyberbullying, it opens our eyes to just how prevalent this problem really is, and how many people it affects.

As adults, it’s our responsibility to know what cyberbullying is, what it looks like, and what we can do about it, not only for ourselves, but also for our children and peers. So, we’ve assembled a list of what to look for, as well as some tips on how to keep others – especially children – safe while on the web.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, a child, in particular, may be the victim of cyberbullying if they:

  • Unexpectedly stop using their device(s) – phones, tablets, computers, gaming systems
  • Appear to be nervous or jumpy when using their device(s)
  • Appear to be uneasy about going to school, work, outside, or other places
  • Appear to be angry, depressed, or frustrated after going online (including after gaming)
  • Are oversleeping, or not sleeping enough
  • Have an abnormal withdrawal from friends and family members
  • Appear to be regularly depressed
  • Show an increase or decrease in eating habits
  • Lose interest in things that once mattered the most to them
  • Make passing statements about the meaninglessness of life, or suicide
  • Frequently call or text from school asking to go home ill
  • Desire to spend much more time with parents than with peers
  • Become unusually secretive, especially when it comes to online activities
  • Avoid discussions about what they are doing online

The National Crime Prevention Center also notes that someone may experience some additional behavioral changes if they are being cyberbullied, including:

  • Acting aggressively towards others
  • Getting into trouble at school, especially if they did not before
  • Skipping school
  • Having a dip in academic performance
  • Suddenly hanging out with a new friend group

Both sources agree that the biggest warning sign is the sudden stop in using devices, especially among younger adults, teenagers, and children. This is because these generations connect to the world through these devices on greater levels than anyone else, therefore the sudden stop in being connected should be alarming.

It’s not only important to recognize when someone may be the victim of cyberbullying, it’s also important to recognize when someone is committing the crime (in the state of Ohio, where WCI Technology Solutions is based, the act of cyberbullying is a crime that can be charged under Ohio’s telecommunications harassment law, as well as under Ohio’s “menacing by stalking” law; bullies convicted of a cyberbullying related criminal offense can be charged fines, face imprisonment, or both, as a result.) Some identifying behaviors, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center, in cyberbullies may include:

  • Quickly switching their screen, or hiding their device, whenever someone is close by
  • Using their device(s) at all hours of the night
  • Becoming unusually upset if they cannot use their device(s)
  • Laughing excessively while using their device(s), but refusing to show what is funny
  • Avoiding discussions about what they are doing online
  • Becoming increasingly withdrawn or isolated from family
  • Seeming to be using multiple online accounts or an account that is not their own
  • Dealing with increased behavioral issues or disciplinary actions at school (or elsewhere)
  • Appearing to be overly concerned with popularity or continues presence in a particular social circle or status
  • Demonstrating increasing insensitivity or callousness towards other peers
  • Starting to hang out with the “wrong crowd”
  • Demonstrating violent tendencies
  • Appearing to be overly conceited as to their technological skills and abilities

As you can see, the behaviors displayed by cyberbullies aren’t all that different from those displayed by traditional ones, they are just more technologically based.

The good news in all of this is that there are things we can be doing to make sure our children, our coworkers, and even ourselves, are safe while on the Internet. If someone around you is being cyberbullied, here’s what you can do:

  • Make sure they are (and feel) safe
  • Talk with and listen to them
  • Collect evidence
  • Work with the school, office, or other authoritative institution
  • Refrain from contacting the cyberbullying (or their parents)
  • Contact the content provider by reporting the incidences, every time
  • Help the victim seek counseling, if necessary
  • If bullying is based on race, sex, or disability, help the victim contact the office of Civil Rights
  • Help the victim contact the police when physical threats are involved
  • Help the victim implement measures to prevent more incidences from reoccurring

And if you know someone who you suspect is cyberbullying, here’s what you can do:

  • Acknowledge that there is an issue
  • Remain calm
  • Keep an open line of communication
  • Stop the bullying – if it is your child, take appropriate measures to ensure that the behavior does not continue; if it is an adult peer or acquaintance, take appropriate measures such as reporting the behavior to a superior or communicating with the bully if they are a friend. It is obviously much harder to stop another adult from bullying but take all appropriate measures you can without making yourself a new target. If it is a friend, remember that, if they don’t want to talk to you or listen to what you have to say in regards to stopping their behavior, ultimately, the safety of others, including yourself, is the most important thing.
  • Help the bully understand the root of the problem
  • Investigate
  • Help the bully understand how their targets feel
  • If appropriate, set up parental controls
  • Share your concerns
  • Stay educated

Never hesitate to report acts of cyberbullying that you might see online, even if you do not know the parties involved. It is better to be an active part of stopping the growth of cyberbullying, than allowing it to continue. You can find contact information for every site, app, and gaming platform here: cyberbullying.org/report.

If you are a parent and are in need of further resources on this topic, we highly recommend going to the Cyberbullying Research Center’s website, cyberbullying.org. They have an incredible library of information for parents, but also teachers and youth.

Although this article was written mainly for the purpose of keeping people, especially parents, aware of this ever-growing problem, we encourage all business owners and entrepreneurs reading these to take the advice we’ve shared seriously. Cyberbullying is a crime that can happen to anyone, regardless of age, and it’s important to keep your employees and coworkers safe. You are in a unique position to both help victims, and hold bullies responsible within your office space, so don’t be afraid to do so.

If you are the victim of cyberbullying, always remember that you can text START to 741741 to chat 24/7 with a live, trained counselor at Crisis Text Line. If you need further assistance, consult a mental health provider, your general health care provider, and/or the local authorities. Your safety is the most important thing!