Cyberbullying is a new social problem created by the rise of new internet-

based technologies. It is especially common among young people who are not
given proper guidance. We see it especially in young people’s use of social
networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.
Let us first define ‘cyberbullying’ so that we have a clear idea of the
nature of this social problem. Essentially, ‘cyberbullying’ is the use of the
internet or mobile phones to harass another person. The intention of cyberbully
is to upset, embarrass or ridicule his victim. The intention is not merely to joke
but to cause distress to the victim. Sometimes, cyberbullying is openly done but
in most cases, the bully is an anonymous person.
There are many examples of cyberbullying. Some bullies spread false
stories about another person in order to spoil their name. This is called
defamation. Such behaviour reflects malice and should be condemned.
Threatening another person is another form of bullying. This is especially
harmful to very young children. Threats may be made against the victim’s life
or against family members. This is clearly a crime. There are also cases where
the bully influences viewers to hate a person. The aim is to isolate or boycott a
victim so that he/she loses his/her friends. Such actions reflect an uncharitable
spirit.
Cyberbullying produces many negative effects which not only affect the
victims but also their families and the rest of the community. Many victims
suffer stress and depression. The victim’s family will be greatly stressed and
there may even be conflicts between the families of the bully and the victim.
Needless to say, the victim’s achievement level in school may suffer. Many
victims are not inclined to come to school and thus they decline in their
academic achievement.
What can be done to overcome this problem? To begin with, we must teach
students the rules of etiquette in using social networking sites. Schools should
hold anti-cyberbullying campaigns from time to time to infuse the right moral
values such as respect, responsibility and fairness towards others.

In addition, there should be stronger school-name partnership. This means that

parents should be informed about any misbehaviour of students using social
networking sites. At the same time, schools and society must introduce stricter
laws and law enforcement to combat cyberbullying.
We all desire a more healthy society where every member is respected. We need
to teach young people to use the new cyber world with wisdom, responsibility
and justice to all.