Cyberbullying can take many forms and occur across different digital platforms such as social media. It is defined as the willful and repeated harm inflicted through electronic means. One million children were cyberbullied on Facebook alone between 2010 and 2011. Victims are vulnerable even in their own homes due to bullying through text messages. Bystanders often ignore cyberbullying. The consequences can be devastating, with cyberbullying strongly linked to suicidal thoughts. While often seen as an adolescent issue, cyberbullying persists into adulthood in the workplace where 8 in 10 office workers report experiencing it. Holding cyberbullies accountable both online and offline is important to address this serious problem.

1. CYBERBULLYING
BY: CAITLIN THORNE
NotJustforKids
photo: Asher Isbrucker via Flickr

2. CYBERBULLYING is defined as
“THE willfulandrepeatedharminflicted
On OR through the use of electronic devices.
photo: I K O via Flickr

3. onlinebullyingcanhappenacrossmany
differentDigitalplatforms
photo: Jason Howie via Flickr

4. SocialMediasitessuchas
GIVEBULLIESA“WALL”TOHIDEBEHIND
photo: GaborfromHungary via MorgueFile

5. Onemillionchildren
were harassed,
threatened, or
subjected to
other forms of
cyber bullying
on Facebook
BETWEEN 2010
and 2011.
ConsumerReport2011
photo:Wen Tong Neo via Flickr

6. TEXTING is also a tool
for cyber-bullies.
photo: Jhaymesisviphotography via Flickr

7. Bullyingovertextmessagemeansthatvictimsare
vulnerable24hoursaday,evenintheirownhomes.
photo: kid-josh via Flickr

8. ITOFTENGOESUNCHALLENGED
BYBYSTANDERS
THE DANGER OF CYBER-BULLYING IS THAT
photo:Tim Snell via Flickr

9. 95%ofsocialmedia-usingteenswhohave
witnessedcruelbehavioronsocial
networkingsitessaytheyhaveseenothers
ignoringthemeanbehavior
photo: Fiona Shields via Flickr

10. the consequences of
cyber-bullying can be
devastating.
Cyber-bullying has Been
strongly related to
suicidal ideation
EVEN in comparison
with traditional
bullying.
(2014 Jama Pediatrics)
photo: Flood G. via Flickr

11. because of RECENT media attention
it is widely believed that cyber-bullying
is a STRICTLY adolescent problem
photo: MartinaK15 via Flickr

12. BUTCyber-bullying
doesnotendwhen
highschoolisover.
photo: Stephan Geyer via Flickr

13. A 2012 study ON WORKPLACE
HARASSMENT found that
8in10officeworkershadexperienced
cyber-bullyingbehavioursonat
leastoneoccasioninthe
previoussixmonths.
TheDailyMail
photo: hotblack via MorgueFile

14. The cyber-bullying behaviours described
in the study included
photo: Kirsty Andrews via Flickr
BEINGHUMILIATED
BEINGIGNORED
BEINGGOSSIPEDABOUTThe Daily Mail

15. Even when reported,
only1.5% ofbullieslosetheirjobs,
but44% oftargeted
employeeslosetheirs.
The Workplace Bullying Institute
photo: Paul Hocksenar via Flickr

16. photo: Jonas Boni via Flickr photo: Phil Whitehouse via Flickr
So what can be done to end the
“ignored epidemic” of workplace
cyber-bullying? Dr. Lisa M S BARROW

17. It is easy to make suggestions.
photo: Glenn Harper via Flickr
Create, implement, and enforce a
zero tolerance policy. Develop
procedures for filing and investigating bullying
complaints and for correcting behaviour. Provide
annual bullying awareness training. Provide support for bullied
employees. Commit to creating a bully-free workplace. Do not confront the
bully.Documentbullyinginstances.Notifyhumanresources.Seeklegalandmedicalassistance

18. However, it is very
difficult for a victim of
CYBER bullying to COME
FORWARD AND SEEK HELP.
photo: hotblack via MorgueFile

19. Cyber-Bullies(young
oradult)needtobe
heldaccountableFOR
THEIRACTIONS
bothonlineandin
therealworld.
photo: Daniel James via Flickr

20. thenexttimeyouseeaninstanceof
HARASSMENTonline,Don’tSCROLLBY.
UNLIKECYBER-BULLYING.photo: SEO via Flickr

21. SourcesAlex Ward.“Cyberbullying in the Workplace Widespread.” The Daily Mail. 2
November 2012.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2226572/Cyberbullying-workplace-
widespread.html
“Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Suicide Statistics.” The Megan Meier Foundation. 2014.
http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/statistics.html
“Cyberbullying Statistics – Internet Safety 101.”Enough is Enough Foundation.
http://www.internetsafety101.org/cyberbullyingstatistics.htm
“Definition:What Does Cyberbullying Exactly Mean?” End to Cyber Bullying
Organization.
http://www.endcyberbullying.org/definition-what-does-cyberbullying-exactly-mean/
Lisa Barrow.“Workplace Bullying:The Ignored Epidemice.” October 2011.
http://drlisabarrow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/
barrows_bullying_article_detroit.pdf