How has the internet impacted bullying?

Cyber bulling- 

More and more people in society today are able to use the internet more to cyberbully others. Independence (2019, P.3) refers to the fact that there are some Statistics from the Department of Education document, relating to Bullying in England between April 2013 to March 2018. This was targeted for children between the ages 10-15 years old in England and wales. The results demonstrated that the percentage of children experiencing cyberbullying were:

- 2013-2014 (8%) 

- 2014-2015-(7%) 

- 2015-2016)- (7%) 

- 2016-2017-(8%) 

- 2017-2018) (7%)   

Although Independence (2019) states statistics from 2013-2018 on children between the ages 10-15 years that are being cyberbullied, Djuraskovic (2021) states that in 2021, 7 in 10 children between the ages 11-15 years old experience cyberbullying. Why is this?  More children in society are now being promoted more to cyberbully other by witnessing behaviours  by not only what they witness within society in person by their family/friends ,  but what they witness on the internet through the latest tech and apps. Theorists, Skinner and Pavlos relate to this within their theories relating to behaviourism and how children learn their behaviour from a young age and what they observe through interaction from either technology, friends or family or online videos/films. The advantages of identifying this are that parents/ children's role models can intervene and help reduce specific behaviours from being promoted into ' learn behaviours'. However, a disadvantage of this is that the children's role models/parents could be promoting negative behaviour within their home environment which could lead to the child developing negative learnt behaviours from their parents/ role models. Although theorists Skinner and Pavlos relate to behaviourism theory, (Morris, 2021) refers to the fact that the social learning theory also takes a key part in the way children learn behaviours. Research shows that his theory demonstrates that children learn through interacting with others and learning through what they are observing. An example of this could include a child is watching their parent shout at another adult, which could lead to the child learning this behaviour and lead them to shout at others. 

 

what is cyberbullying?

Stop Bullying.gov (2021) refers to the fact that cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like mobile phones, computers, and tablets. Cyber-bullying can occur through many apps, online , texts and sharing content. Stop Bullying.gov (2021) refers to the fact that this type of bulling 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. Although Stop Bullying. gov (2021) states this Beckett, (2021) refers to the fact that when receiving results from a student survey targeted between the ages 11-15 years old, demonstrated that social media was the most common space for online bullying occurring, with an overall of 50% of children saying that was were it most targeted them. Research shows that 40% of children between 11-15 years old  who have been bullied, said that lies or rumours about them had been shared online and more than a quarter have had images or videos of them posted online without their consent. when relating to video and image based bullying it has seen a 48% rise in the past twelve months, a time period where children’s usage of popular video-sharing app TikTok increased by 15%. 

Why is cyberbullying growing across the years ? 

Safeguarding Essentials (2017) refers to the facts that across the years research has demonstrated a growth is cyberbullying occurring between children aged 11- 15 years old, but why is this? They state that new technologies have created dangers towards promoting cyberbullying, instead of bullying once only occurring in person, technology has now created a new power to now control cyberbullying behind a screen anonymously. Panda (2021) also agrees with this becoming a danger by stating that when the pandemic COVID19 occurred, it has led to only 20% of bullying occurring in schools and an overall of  50% occurring online. The advantages of identifying this Safeguarding Essentials (2017) states that schools have put in place things that help show an awareness of the dangers of the internet, online bullying and show awareness of what mental health is and how to access support. Schools now have : Anti- bullying week, mental health awareness week, e-safety week this was  founded in 2002 by the NSPCC and the National Children’s Bureau. 

The Most Common Places Cyber-bullying occurs:

- Social media apps such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Snapchat.

- Text messaging and messaging apps.

- Direct messaging or emailing.

- Online Gaming.

Independence (2019, P.6) states that the different types of cyberbullying that occur include: 

Harassment

- Citizens Advice (2021) refers to the fact that harassment is unwanted behaviour that could lead you feeling humiliated or intimidated. This could be unwanted behaviour including; joking, facial expressions, spoken words or abuse, images or graphite or physical gestures. 

Denigration

- McMillan Dictionary (2021) states that Denigration is where somebody is left feeling like they have no value at all. 

Impersonation

-Cambridge Dictionary (2021) defines impersonation as an act of someone intentionally copying another persons individual characteristics, such as the way they speak, the way they look, their behaviour and expressions in the hope of making other people laugh. 

Outing and Trickery

- CYBER-BULLYING (2021) refers to the fact that outing and trickery is when somebody deceives you into giving out your private information to  publish or share your information. 

-Cyber stalking

- Cyber blackmail 991 (2021) sates that cyber stalking is when somebody looks into somebody's personal identity on social media accounts in the hope to stalk or harass an individual, group, or organisation.

- Exclusion

- Cambridge Dictionary (2021) refers to the fact that exclusion is when somebody purposely doesn't involve you in an activity /event or social conversation. 

- Trolling/ Deindividuation 

Merriam Webster (2021) defines trolling as somebody that uses the internet as a source to hurt and harm others with offensive, hurtful comments about a post they may have posted or a message they send anonymously. 

-Catfishing

Dictionary.com (2021) states that catfishing is a type of slang. It is a person who assumes a false identity or personality on the internet, especially on social media websites, as to deceive, manipulate, or swindle.

 

Affects Of Cyber bullying on Children's Mental Health

There are many different affects that cyberbullying can have on human development, some effects can include; mental health problems from occurring, sleep patterns being disturbed, children becoming more anxious and withdrawn and children to become more worried and keep thinking about the problem instead of seeking help/support from others.  Dr Phill (2020) agrees by  stating that  teenagers with experience of being cyber bullied, have been left feeling ; withdraw, anxious, scared, uncomfortable in their body, metal health problems developing, wanting to  change themselves, change their appearance, confidence issues, anxiety, depression and suffer with panic attacks. Although Dr. Phill (2020) states this, he also refers to the fact that some positives of children experiencing cyber bullying has led to individuals becoming a stronger person and led them to helping others that are going through similar  experiences have better outcomes and have somebody to talk to that have been through similar experiences  . Although, Dr Phill (2020) states some affects of cyberbullying ,  Cook (2021) also refers to the fact that in 2019 there was a study focusing on children aged 11-15 years old has reported that 36% of children that have been cyber bullied have been left suffering from poor sleep and signs of depression. This could lead to developmental delays within their learning and can lead them feeling tired and drained whilst trying to study. The advantages of identifying this can lead to children accessing support sooner to help achieve better outcomes and reduce the likelihood of it getting worse. 

Facts

According to Khan, (2018) studies show that there was no correlation between age and cyber-bullying. within his research identified that males were more likely to cyber bully others than females.

Khan, (2018) states:     

• 43.6% of cyber-bullies thought that their bullying behaviour was harsh to very harsh on the victims (Cyber victims: 66.4%), similarly, only 26% thought their actions had an impact on their victim’s life (Cyber victims: 34.6%). 
• Within a group of school bullies, 85.5% reported that they were also victims and even though almost 30% in this group were cyber-bullies, 27.3% were cyberbully victims . Anonymity associated with electronic communication tools promotes cyberbullying and makes it difficult to prevent.

• Research demonstrated that the frequencies of public school students who indicated being cyberbullies were higher than those that are private school students. 

 

How has cyberbullying Impacted on children's Human development? 

I strongly believe that the internet does have an affect on children when relating to cyberbullying, from either the child being cyberbullied, the bully or the people witnessing the cyberbullying.  Research has demonstrated that when relating to bullying and how it impacts individuals, research has shown that it does in fact have an overall impact on everyone;  for example it can impact the victim, the bully and the observers of the bullying in different ways leading to psychological impacts on the individuals. when relating to how the cyberbullying impacts the victim research has shown that some affects on the child's development could include; (mastersinpsychologyguide.com, 2021) 

• Emotionally withdrawn, this could lead to the individual being impacted further if they are already a shy individual.
• Lead to trouble interacting with either friends/family/ teachers . 
• If cyberbullying is occurring regularly by the individual and humiliation is occurring allot then this could lead to the individual that is being cyberbullied sink into a deeper world of themselves.
• Can lead individuals suffering with sadness, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
• Lead them no longer enjoying activities/ events/ hobbies that they used to enjoy. 
•  Academic performance may struggle further and lead them to isolate themselves from accessing help/support. 
• Could lead to suicidal thoughts 

 

when relating to how cyberbullying has impacted the bully research has shown that some affects it could have on the child's development could include; (mastersinpsychologyguide.com, 2021) 

• children who cyberbully others are at risk of long term and short term lasting emotional problems occurring. 
• can lead them to only bullying others due to not having their own friends/social groups.
• Affect them maintaining relationships/socialising when older. 

 

When relating to how cyberbullying has affected the observers of the bullying, research has demonstrated that some affects it can have on human development could include;  (mastersinpsychologyguide.com, 2021) 

• helplessness in situations which could lead to anxiety/ depression health issues occurring within their life. 

 

 

Thejournal.ie (2017)

Theory

Behaviourism Theorist

Porter (2021) refers to the fact that some behaviourism theorist include Ivan Pavlos and Burrhus Frederic Skinners theory. These theorists focus on how behaviourism explain the mind through public behaviours such as cyberbullying that occur within society and can lead to impacts within human development. 

Burrhus Frederic Skinner

Skinner's theory focussed on behaviourism and operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments of behaviour (McLeod, 2018). when relating to children's behaviour and being influenced by others leading them to cyberbully, Skinner's theory suggests that it is a learnt behaviour from how they were influenced from what is wrong and what is right and what consequences were put in place to help them learn that the behaviour they demonstrated was wrong and unacceptable. He believed that best  way to look into a behaviour was the actions and consequences. Skinner believed that behaviour that is reinforced tends to be repeated, were behaviour that is not reinforced tends to die out. He also strongly believed that when punishment is in place it weakens behaviour. An example of this could be a child cyberbullying another in school and being caught by their parents or teachers which led to a punishment of their phone being taken away from them and being grounded. By this punishment being in place would reduce the likelihood of them repeating this behaviour again in the future. where as if they wasn't caught and had a popular group of friends which is what they have always wanted , which had led them to proceed in the cyberbullying behaviour led them to repeating the behaviour and not having any consequences. To sum Skinner's theory up demonstrates that a negative reinforcement strengthens behaviour because it stops or removes an unpleasant experience (McLeod, 2018).  

when relating Skinner's theory and how the media has played a role in influencing children's development. Research has demonstrated from THERACARE (2021) that adults have promoted the behaviours of their children by rewarding their behaviour , for most children this would be with with technology, tablets and phones when their behaviour has been unacceptable. This could lead to children spending too much screen time online and can affect their development.  Screen time  is considered the most crucial risk factor that can affect a child's early developmental process , this could lead to overall barriers in children achieving academically in school ( Dutta, 2021). Overall teenagers spend approximately seven hours and twenty two minutes screen time each day ( Jacobo, 2019). Although Jacobo , 2019 states this , OSF Healthcare (2021) states the importance of children only having as little screen time as two hours a day excluding homework. By having this in place will help the children develop more academically and help any health conditions from occurring. 

 

Ivan Pavlos

Pavlos's theory focussed on behaviourism and classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is learnt through association with others. An example of Classical conditioning when relating to bullying  is still a learnt behaviour, for example a child is getting bullied at school and the bully says to them "I'll get you next time "but then hits them in the face, then when the child is put into a similar situation and them words come up again then it will lead the child to get away from the situation before the same thing happens again (TED-EF, 2013). 

when relating Pavlos's theory to human development and how media is affecting children's development , his theory suggests that our behaviours are learnt through others. when involving media if a child witnesses family, friends using their phone/tablet/laptop several hours a day then the likelihood is that the child will want to copy this behaviour and use their phone/tablet/laptop for many hours during the day and become attached to their device. 

 

 

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