Cyber bullying and suicide

The Connection between Cyberbullying and Suicide Tendencies among the Youth
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The Connection between Cyberbullying and Suicide Tendencies among the Youth
Cyber-bullying is the use of Internet and Information technologies to deliberately and maliciously harass, embarrass, and threaten other people. According to the US Legal definitions, cyber-bullying specifically refers to “posting rumors or gossips about a person in the internet bringing about hatred in other’s minds; or it may go to the extent of personally identifying victims and publishing materials severely defaming and humiliating them” (U.S. Legal, 2014). The perpetrator of cyber-bullying (cyberbully) may be a person the victim knows, a total stranger, or a person known to the victim but who hides his or her identity.
Cyberbullying is a serious problem in the world today. Survey studies indicate that from 5 to 20 percent of children around the world experience verbal, physical, and exclusionary bullying. However, advancements in Information Technology have transformed the natural of bullying from traditional physical harassment-oriented bullying to remote and non-violent forms of bullying, where bullies do not need to confront their victims face-to-face (Maldonado, 2014). In contemporary bullying, perpetrators use the Internet and phones to send and spread threatening and/or embarrassing text messages, emails, and photos of their victims. Cyberbullying is particularly problematic because it can take place anywhere and at any time of the day, and there is little that the victims can do to avoid it. Children are the most vulnerable group because often use Internet services without adult guidance to protect their privacy online predators.
While most adults may be tempted to dismiss the seriousness of cyberbullying incidences targeting children by terming it “part of being a kid,” research studies indicate that it can have far reaching consequences that may extend into adulthood. For example, bullying victims are two to nine times likely to think about suicide than the general population (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010). In a UK study, it was found that at least half of the suicide cases among young adults were associated with bullying. Other bullying related consequences include psychological problems, poor a...