Quite recently, there has been an outbreak of news stories and articles highlighting the horrible nature of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is different from the usual victimisation in the way that the bully uses technology to harass, hurt or humiliate their target. With mobile phones becoming a necessity and social networking sites so frequently used, the methods in which a person can intimidate another, often anonymously, have increased dramatically.

Mobile phone abuse

As mobile phone users are getting younger and younger every year, it's not unusual for whole playgrounds to be filled with kids posting texts, emails and status updates. This in turn opens up a new world for a bully to play around in and all it takes is for them to get their hands on your phone number. Prank calling, sending abusive text messages and leaving horrible voicemail messages are all ways in which bullies choose to harass their targets. Make sure that you only give your number out to people that you trust, such as close friends and family members, as to not supply any ammo to be used against you.

Happy slapping

Happy slapping began as a fad a few years ago. The term "happy slapping" is used to describe an assault on an unsuspecting person that is recorded by others using a camera phone. The act is purposely filmed to be shared and distributed on social networking sites and video-hosting sites, such as YouTube. The media especially have brought attention to the phenomenon and many arrests have been made linked to more serious incidents involving murder and sexual assault. A highly reported case surrounding a teenage girl filming the fatal beating of a 29-year-old man, concluded with the girl being sentenced to serve a two-year detention training order.

Social network abuse

Sites like Facebook and Twitter allow millions of people to log in and create profiles every day. Though most tend to use the sites for chatting with friends or uploading photos, there are a few who see the internet as a bullying opportunity. By creating fake profiles and screen names, bullies can remain anonymous, allowing them to wreak havoc all they want without the fear of being found out. It's not uncommon for bullies to send abusive private messages, uploading humiliating photos and videos or even set up a hate group/page and encouraging others to join. These groups are handled very seriously by site moderators so make sure that you report them when you see them. Also, be sure to never give out your profile details to anybody you don't trust or are friends with. Never accept a friend request from somebody you don't know or somebody that you wouldn't be comfortable sharing your personal info with in real life.

What should I do?

Bullies are the way they are due to deep insecurities. Hiding behind a username or withheld number is one of the most cowardly things a person can do, but luckily there is a way to stop them. Instead of responding to hateful messages, try hitting the print button, saving the message or jotting the details down. By keeping an archive of abusive messages, texts, emails and notes, you can start to build a case against the bully, using all of the stored stuff as evidence. It makes it hard to defend your bullying when there are piles of proof on the victim's hard drive!

Make sure to tell your parents, teachers and friends about it as they'll do whatever they can to stop the bullying. If that doesn't work, try contacting an advice service such as Childline or, if things start to get really out of control, your local police service.

Other ways you can help stop cyberbullying are:

• Report or flag any evidence of bullying to the site provider or moderator, even if it's not aimed at you.
• Consider changing your username or privacy settings. By blocking messages from non-friends and keeping yourself hidden from search results, nobody will be able to see your profile unless you give them permission.
• Refuse to share bullying videos, photos or messages and make a note of anybody who tries to encourage you.
• Keep your passwords secure. It only takes one malicious person to get hold of your personal information to start making your life hell.
• Search for yourself on social networks or using search engines like Google. If you feel as though you're being picked on, you'll be able to see exactly what other people can see about you and make any changes to offensive material. Remember to contact the service provider.
• Be careful when you're posting online. Talking about extreme viewpoints or opinions may cause you to become a bully yourself without even realising.

Helpful links

For more information and advice on cyberbullying, check out the following sites...

Cybermentors

Beat Bullying

Bullying UK