Cyberbullying-An Overview (edX)

Cyberbullying has disastrous consequences which are sometimes irreparable and it needs to be addressed. It is affecting everyone irrespective of age , gender and location. Cyber bullying is a serious issue as it is creating a lot of mental stress which results in anxiety , self–doubt and depression and thereby affecting the whole personality of a person.

Cyberbullying is the use of technology, such as the internet and social media, to harass, intimidate, or harm someone. This type of bullying can take many forms, including sending mean or threatening messages, posting embarrassing photos or videos, or creating fake profiles to impersonate someone. Cyberbullying can be especially harmful because it can be done anonymously and can reach a wide audience quickly. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing false , negative, harmful, or mean content about someone else. It may include sharing of personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Sometimes it crosses, the line into unlawful or criminal behaviour.

The mentioned below are some common places where cyberbullying generally occurs : -

Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok or any such other platforms

Through text messaging and some messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

Instant or direct messaging, and online chat over the internet

Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit etc.,

Online gaming communities

Through emails

Nowadays, with the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts, and content shared by individuals can often be viewed by strangers as well as acquaintances. The content an individual shares online, both their personal content as well as any negative, mean, or hurtful content creates a permanent public record of their views, activities, and behaviour. This public record can be thought of as an online reputation, that may be accessible to employers, educational institutes, clubs, and others who may be researching about an individual. It also harms the online reputations of everyone involved in or participating in it.

To hide their identity the bullies generally use fake profiles or anonymous accounts. It makes very difficult for the law enforcement authorities to trace the bully and make accountable for their actions.

There are steps that parents and educators can take to prevent and address this issue. One of the most important is to educate children and young adults about the dangers of cyberbullying and how to recognize it. Parents and educators should also monitor their children’s online activity and encourage them to be open and honest about any cyberbullying they may be experiencing. This can help parents and educators intervene early, before the situation escalates.

Another important step is to work with schools and law enforcement to develop policies and protocols for dealing with cyberbullying. This can include creating a system for reporting cyberbullying and ensuring that victims receive the support and resources they need to heal and move forward.

Cyberbullying is a threat to one's productivity, motivation level and creates mental stress. The primary objective of the course is to give a complete idea on cyberbullying, discuss different forms of cyber bullying and how to address them in an efficient manner. The course will also discuss about various causes of cyberbullying and the impacts like social, mental, and physical health of a person in detail along with the preventive and reporting mechanisms.

What you'll learn

Learning about cyberbullying can help you understand the impact it can have on individuals and communities, and how to recognize and prevent it. Cyber bullying is a great danger to the society. It causes harm to people and results negatively for, both, the bully and the victim. Being knowledgeable about cyberbullying definitely beneficial in various fields, such as social work, education, workplace or technology, where you may encounter and need to address the issue. Cyberbullying is a growing concern for people of all ages and backgrounds. As we are more and more dependent on digital technologies and social media, it is important for everyone to be aware of the potential negative consequences and take steps to prevent it.

Syllabus

Chapter 1:Introduction to Cyberbullying

Section 1: About the course

Section 2: Brief Objective

Chapter 2: Forms of Cyberbullying

Section 1 Cyberstalking, Trickery, Trolling

Section 2: Persistent Cyberbullying

Section 3: Permanent Cyberbullying

Section 4: hard to notice

Chapter 3: Causes of Cyberbullying

Section 1: Overview of causes of Cyber Bullying

Section 2: Lack of empathy, self loathing, Addiction

Section 3: Lack of Internet Experience

Section 4: lack of Parental Monitoring

Chapter 4: Impacts of Cyberbullying

Section 1: Various Impact of cyber bullying

Section 2: Social impact

Section 3: Impact on Mental Health

Section 4: Impact on Physical Health

Chapter 5: Preventing and Reporting of Cyberbullying incidents

Section 1 : Preventive measures of Cyber bullying

Section 2 : Reporting of Cyberbullying incidents