Chracteristics of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a relatively new research topic, following the rapid increase in use of the internet and mobile devices. Several characteristics distinguish cyberbullying from other forms of bullying, such as:

• Students who are victimized have no place to hide, and can be targeted anytime and anyplace.
• Cyberbullying can involve a very wide audience (e.g., through the circulation of video clips on the internet), although the bully may not be aware of the audience’s reactions.
• Students who cyberbully others are relatively protected by the anonymity of electronic forms of contact, which can safeguard them from punishment or retaliation.
• As with some indirect traditional bullying, students who cyberbully do not usually see the response of the victim, changing the satisfactions or inhibitions normally generated by bullying.