Internet Harassment or Cyberbullying

Internet harassment, also referred to as “cyberbullying”, is the term used to describe the use of the Internet to bully, harass, threaten, or maliciously embarrass. It can involve behaviours such as:

• Sending unsolicited and/or threatening e-mail.
• Encouraging others to send the victim unsolicited and/or threatening e-mail or to overwhelm the victim with e-mail messages.
• Sending viruses by e-mail (electronic sabotage).
• Spreading rumours.
• Making defamatory comments about the victim online.
• Sending negative messages directly to the victim.
• Impersonating the victim online by sending an inflammatory, controversial or enticing message which causes others to respond negatively to the victim.
• Harassing the victim during a live chat.
• Leaving abusive messages online, including social media sites.
• Sending the victim pornography or other graphic material that is knowingly offensive.
• Creating online content that depicts the victim in negative ways.

Reference:

CCOHS. (2020). Internet Harassment or Cyberbullying. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/cyberbullying.html

Beini Jiang