{"id":92936,"date":"2020-08-10T03:56:50","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T10:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=92936"},"modified":"2024-11-19T20:45:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T04:45:39","slug":"cyberbullyings-impact-society-and-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/cyberbullyings-impact-society-and-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyberbullying\u2019s Impact on Both Society and Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than half of children say that a cyberbully targeted them online.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That disquieting stat comes from our recent global research on <\/span>cyberbullying<\/span><\/a>. Overall, 57% of children said they were cyberbullied during the school year. Meanwhile, many parents remain in the dark. Only 42% of parents worldwide said they were aware that their child was bullied online. A distinct awareness gap.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And in the wake of those attacks, the risk of emotional and even physical harm follows.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why talking about cyberbullying is so vital. It acknowledges that cyberbullying remains a fact of life for children today. Moreover, it gives families the tools to spot it\u2014and help heal any harm that comes along with it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, we\u2019ll share some points that can help spark that conversation at home. We\u2019ll look at what cyberbullying is, its signs, its trends, and the steps you can take if someone you know is getting bullied online.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is cyberbullying?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cI know it when I see it\u201d only goes so far when it comes to spotting cyberbullying. A clear definition helps far more than that. StopBullying.gov defines it as:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026 [B]ullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, it can also include sending explicit images or messages and exclusion from group chats and conversations as well. Exclusion is an important point and sometimes gets overlooked in conversations about cyberbullying. As we\u2019ll see, children reported it as one of the top three forms of cyberbullying they\u2019ve experienced.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the signs of cyberbullying?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that children hide their online activities from their parents. Our research puts a number to that. More than half of children (59%) take some action to hide what they\u2019re up to online. As an adult, that means you might not see the offending text, post, or content yourself. More likely, you will spot a change in behavior.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sadness and depression commonly appear in victims. This can manifest itself in several ways, including the following signs as called out by WebMD:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n