A GLIMPSE ON CYBERBULLYING - BY CH.S.B.L.MEGHANA

INTRODUCTION

The internet usage became a very common thing in now-a-days. As everything has its advantages and disadvantages, internet also has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the best things with usage of internet is one can use social media. Through social media one can easily share useful information, pictures, videos and opinions etc. and one should also be aware of information and opinions that they are sharing with others and here comes the concept of cyber bullying. Few examples of social media platforms where cyberbullying is so common such as Facebook, Instagram, twitter, Snapchat etc.

WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?

It simply, means and refers to the misuse of technology with the intention to harm others. Cyberbullying is harassing, embarrassing, threatening someone or making targeting sharing about that person through technology. Cyberbullying actions, which are more common among young children and young people and it, can also be observed in adults. In such cases, severe legal sanctions are imposed on adults, such as prison sentences. In distinguishable to the typical “bullying” actions, there is no need for physical force or face-to-face communication for cyberbullying. Anyone using any device with an Internet connection can perform a cyberbullying action. Bullies can be anonymous, as well as from close friends of children and young people. 

EFFECTS OF CYBERBULLYING

1. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS

Cyberbullying can also result in increased distress for the victims along with increased anger and frustration. They will vent this out on various occasions, and it might force them to get addicted to the virtual/not real world where they can have several identities to hide their real one. Continuous bullying will lead to severe withdrawal from their family and friends circle. 

2. FEEL ALONE AND ISOLATED

They separate themselves to feel a sense of protection from the outer world. Most of the victims do not reveal anything to their parents or family members to disappoint them. To escape the bullies, they may try to change their schools or home. Most of the time the victims would give up fighting with the bullies and end themselves to escape the pain/sorrow and horrors of the continuous cyberbullying.

3.DISINTERESTED IN ATTENDING SCHOOL

If a schoolmate bullies a child then the first way for him to avoid the bullying is to stop going to school. He/she would choose to skip classes to escape the pain/embarrassment temporarily. The feeling of embarrassment and humiliation from the fellow students will prevent the child to return to school and have a healthy school life. Their grades will start dropping, and most of the time they will drop out from school or college.

STEPS TO PREVENT CYBERBULLYING

1.  Always teach your children to never share personal information online to strangers or outsiders. For example, if you lost your home address or phone number there, it will make you a target of cyberbullying easily.

2. Mainly avoid posting photos or private photos of yourself online or confine them up to your family members or close friends only.

3. Never let to share your internet passwords and account details with anyone.

4. Finally do not click on mysterious links, there may be scams.

These are few steps to prevent cyberbullying and to protect oneself from cyberbullying

WHY IS CYBERBULLYING DANGEROUS?

It affects the mental health and mental peace of a person; it will also tarnish the reputation of an individual. It also makes a person so depressed, lonely, disinterested, vengeful, humiliated, and worthless and etc. which may also leads to do suicide. Cyberbullying increases the risk of suicide because person who is being constantly bullied through text messages, or other modes. They may often begin to hopeless and may even begin to feel like the only way to escape the pain /sorrow is through committing suicide and they may also think and fantasise about ending their life in order to escape suffering from mental pain.

FEW SECTIONS REPLY ON CYBERBULLYING UNDER VARIOUS LAWS

INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860

1.  SECTION 499 : Defamation

2. SECTION 292A : Printing etc. of grossly indecent or scurrilous matter or matter intended for blackmail.

3.SECTION 354A : Making sexually colored remarks, guilty of the offence of sexual harassment.

4.  SECTION 354D : Stalking.

5. SECTION 507 : Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication

6. SECTION 509 : Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modest of woman.

HOWEVER, the above provisions are not exhaustive, but cyberbullying can be brought under these provisions of law. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 as follows

1.  SECTION 66E : Punishment for violation of privacy.

2.SECTION 67   : Publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.

3.SECTION 67A : Publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc in electronic form.

CYBERBULLYING IN DIFFERENT TYPE/SENSES

CIVIL

1.    A cyber bully may be engaged in defamation

Defamation is when the person who is bullying harm to someone’s reputation by spreading false information about that person. Defamation in form of temporarily live broadcast called slander and permanent in a website or a book is called libel. In such cases, the target can lay a suit against the person making the statement. If such suit is successful, the person making the statement will have to pay damages (money) to the target.

CRIMINAL

1. Defamatory libel is a crime under the criminal code

It is most often treated as a crime if the libellous statement is directed against a person in authority and could seriously harm his/her reputation. Defamatory libel is a punishable offence and i.e. imprisonment up to five years.

2.   Publishing personal images without consent is a crime under the Penal Code.

Publishing private/personal images without consent was added as an offence. This includes both intentionally spreading an image in which the person is nude, is exposing someone’s  genital organs or anal region or her breasts or is engaged in explicit sexual activity” as well as “being reckless as to whether or not that person gave their consent to that conduct.

3. Harassment is a crime under the Penal Code.

Harassment is when something a person says or does makes someone fear for someone’s safety, or for the safety of others. Even if they commit did not intend to frighten someone, she or he can be charged with harassment if the target feels threatened. Criminal harassment is punishable and it is imprisonment up to 10 years.

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY SCHOOLS/WORKPLACES

Schools and workplaces are required to provide some basic safe environment for their students and employees and must take appropriate action to do so. Like punishing a student for online misbehavior that which is making it hard for other students, punishing like suspend or expel the student or employee for such cyberbullying.

AGE GROUP IN WHICH CYBERBULLYING IS MOST ACTIVE

Victims of cyberbullying are most commonly from the age group of 12 to 18. Teenagers get attracted to the online glamour and the attention that they get from strangers. The virtual fans what they seek and they tend to do things for gaining followers on social sites such as Face book and Instagram, etc. School students are very easy to target, and if they have a bully within they school then, it becomes more difficult to escape the bullying.

HOW TO REPORT CYBERBULLYING

One can report cyber bulling by filing a formal complaint on   www.cybercrime.gov.in. Without any hesitation, If cyberbullying has taken place at school, one should inform to school counselor or teachers. And same with college or university. One should not hesitate to inform parents about such incidents.

CONCLUSION

Cyber bullying is a serious issue, and it can be truly horrific to go through such a difficult period. Staying very strong and fighting back is the only option against these bullies. It’s possible to get over it and live your life again. Seeing a counselor can help the victims handle the incident in a better and a safe way. Life does not get over if you are a victim of cyberbullying and it is possible to fight back. The best possible solution to prevent cyberbullying is to promote healthy relationships with everyone. If we treat each and everyone with dignity and respect the same will be reflect back. There is a saying you cannot harvest good deeds when you sow bad deeds. Thus, so that if we treat each other with dignity and respect and bullying will no longer exist in our society.