Cyber bullying and children

Courtesy - The Island By Dr. B.J.C.Perera

MBBS(Ceylon), DCH(Ceylon), DCH(England), MD(Paediatrics), FRCP(Edinburgh), FRCP(London), FRCPCH(United Kingdom), FSLCPaed, FCCP, FCGP(Sri Lanka) Consultant Paediatrician

Bullying is not a new phenomenon but thanks to the Internet children are now being bullied even in the comfort of their own homes. Online harassment, more often called cyber bullying, is a serious problem. It is the use of modern technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. Cyber bullying has been defined as "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person" or as "when an electronic device is used to attack or defame the character of a real person". Almost by definition, it occurs among young people and when an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail times in many countries. When bullying comes home through the Internet it can leave victims feeling helpless and overwhelmed. This hottest new trend has children using those keyboards to send vile, hateful and highly slanderous messages about their peers through the Internet. Bullying that was once confined to playgrounds, has now hit cyberspace, cell phones and pagers. Most unfortunately, it is both serious and sophisticated.

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