Bullying

  • Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both person who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

    In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

    • An Imbalance of Power: People who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.

    • Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

    Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

  • Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

    The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

    • Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

    • Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

    • Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

    • Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

    • Email

    • Online gaming communities

  • There are three types of bullying:

    • Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:

    o Teasing

    o Name-calling

    o Inappropriate sexual comments

    o Taunting

    o Threatening to cause harm

    • Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:

    o Leaving someone out on purpose

    o Telling others not to be friends with someone

    o Spreading rumors about someone

    o Embarrassing someone in public

    • Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:

    o Hitting/kicking/pinching

    o Spitting

    o Tripping/pushing

    o Taking or breaking someone’s things

    o Making mean or rude hand gestures

  • Bullying can affect everyone—those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health, substance use, and suicide. It is important to talk to kids to determine whether bullying—or something else—is a concern.

  • People who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental health issues. People who are bullied are more likely to experience:

    • Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.

    • Health complaints

    • Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

    Get police help or medical attention immediately if:

    • A weapon is involved.

    • There are threats of serious physical injury.

    • There are threats of hate-motivated violence, such as racism or homophobia.

    • There is serious bodily harm.

    • There is sexual abuse.

    • Anyone is accused of an illegal act, such as robbery or extortion using force to get money, property, or services.

    All information on this page were gathered from: https://www.stopbullying.gov/