Running head: CYBERBULLYING: OLD TRICKS ON A NEW PLAYGROUND 1

Cyberbullying in Young Adults: Old Tricks on a New Playground

Arizona State University

TWC 452 Information in the Digital Age

Submitted to Dr. La Verne Abe Harris

[2/15/19]
CYBERBULLYING: OLD TRICKS ON A NEW PLAYGROUND 2

INTRODUCTION

With an adolescent population that spends an increasing amount on daily time online, it’s

no surprise that unruly teens have discovered new, out-of-the-classroom ways to bully their

peers. In the past, reaching home was a safe haven for victimized students, but now, the

omnipresent internet is there to remind those students that home is nowhere to hide.

This new online method of tormenting others, “cyberbullying,” or “cybershaming,” has

been shown to have severe deleterious effects on the development and psyche of young adults

across the world. [ CITATION Nix14 \l 1033 ] While online bullying may have harsher, longer-

lasting effects compared to more traditional forms of bullying, is it fair to blame the phenomena

on the information age?

It is time to combat the causes of these online attacks, rather than shaming the vessel

(online platforms and the internet) of the interactions.

A SERIOUS PROBLEM

Young adults today find cyberbullying to be an extremely pressing and worrisome issue,

with 43% of teens believing that online shaming is a greater issue than even drug abuse. (Scheff,

2017)

But who can blame them? Online, every move is immortalized, public, and immediately

available. The reality for many young adults today is that one move, whether wrong or right,

could land them on the receiving end of shaming pictures, hateful comments, and a ruined

reputation. Worse, is that because everyone is forever on the internet, these teens must love with

this “high-tech tattoo” for extended lengths of time. (Scheff, 2018)

Negative consequences of this type of bullying are sadly becoming extremely

commonplace. During a recent survey of young adults who frequently used social media
CYBERBULLYING: OLD TRICKS ON A NEW PLAYGROUND 3

platforms, the Young Minds Children’s Society found that 38% surveyed reported that social

media has a negative effect on their self-esteem, with that statistic jumping to 46% for girls.

Blows to a person’s self-esteem during these developmental stages of life are especially

harmful, because it is at this stage where people are most likely to internalize issues a blames

oneself. [ CITATION Nix14 \l 1033 ] Further, the anonymity of many online shaming attacks can

leave a victim with no other known outlet for their anger and pain than themselves.

Bullying is easier and more impactful than ever through the use of cyber technologies –

but how do we combat it?

A SERIOUS SOLUTION

Just like in face to face bullying, a common cause of this action is a lack of empathy.

[ CITATION Nix14 \l 1033 ] What’s shocking is that in a study conducted by Kathryn Modeki,

low levels of empathy were found to increase the likelihood of involvement in cyber bullying, as

both the perpetrator and as the victim! [ CITATION Mod13 \l 1033 ]

Recent findings also suggested that lower self-esteem in adolescents was a sign of current

or future involvement in cybershaming. [ CITATION Nix14 \l 1033 ] This vicious cycle

perpetuates bullying, which is only made easier on the world-wide web.

Instead of placing the blame on technology, is it time instead to focus on the root causes

of bullying, whether in person or in cyberspace?

By taking the time to build empathy in children, we may be able to significantly reduce

the occurences of cyberbullying, and maybe even bullying in general. (ncbi) Building empathy in

young adults starts with the parents and inside the home and must be “cultivated” from a young

age. [ CITATION Jab17 \l 1033 ]

CYBERBULLYING: OLD TRICKS ON A NEW PLAYGROUND 4

Researchers suggest that “offline parenting” is necessary for young adults to have a

successful like online. (Scheff, 2017) Parents can minimize destructive online behavior and

increase empathy by “building bonds of trust” and encouraging their children to talk about and

understand their emotions and the emotions of others.

These insights on the effects of empathy beg the question: Is the information age and

social media the real problem? Or is it the lack of sufficient parenting, specifically in the

emotional intelligence department?

CONCLUSION

While online platforms may have breathed new life into the culture of bullying, the issues

stem deeper than anonymous webpages.

Bullying existed before the onset of the information age and will probably continue on

into the next era we enter as well, if systematic action is not taken in our society. It may seem

like a stretch to try to change a parent’s way of raising their child, but it may be possible with

better education and clearer research on the topic. The rise of online bullying and cybershaming

has been convenient distraction from tackling the real issue at the core of the problem: the lack

of awareness of other’s feelings, or even, the complete disregard of those feelings.

Teaching empathy and helping young adults to increase self-esteem through greater and

more effective communication techniques are the stepping stones to healthy interpersonal

relationships, both online and in the real world.

It is high time that society stopped using the internet as a scapegoat for their behavioral

issues, like cyberbullying and shaming, and instead, learned to look inward for the source of their

challenges.
CYBERBULLYING: OLD TRICKS ON A NEW PLAYGROUND 5

WORD COUNT: [811]

Bibliography

Jabs, C. (2017, March 3). Building Empathy in an Online World. Retrieved from City Parent:

http://www.cityparent.com/articles/building-empathy-in-an-online-world/

Modeki, K. L., Barber, B. L., & Vernon, L. (2013). Mapping Developmental Precursors of

Cyber-Aggression: Trajectories of Risk Predict Perpetration and Victimization. Journal

of Youth and Adolescence, 651-661.

Nixon, C. L. (2014). Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health.

Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 5, 143-158.

Scheff, S. (2017, September 24). The Impact of Online Shaming on Young Lives. Retrieved from

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shame-nation/201709/the-

impact-online-shaming-young-lives

Scheff, S. (2018, July 5). The Impact of Public Shaming in a Digital World. Retrieved from

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shame-nation/201807/the-

impact-public-shaming-in-digital-world

Young Minds. (2018). Safety Net: Cyberbullying’s Impact on Young People's Mental Health.

Retrieved from Young Minds:

https://youngminds.org.uk/media/2189/pcr144b_social_media_cyberbullying_inquiry_ful

l_report.pdf