According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, “bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort” (“Bullying”). This definition can be directly related to cyberbullying because it involves the harassment of others. Internet safety organizations are very clear when it comes to cyberbullying and the fact that it applies to harassing behavior that is directed at minors, where cyber harassment is mainly directed at adults (“Cyberbullying”). Although cyberbullying can happen at all ages, teenagers are more likely than people of other ages to be victims for several reasons. Eighty percent of teenagers use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (Landau). Studies included in a CNN article show that more teenagers use the Internet and social media than adults, who only about sixty-nine percent are on social media sites. This study also showed that while twenty percent of teens use unkind language on social media, only five percent of adults do (Landau). If a teen is on social media, it automatically makes them more likely to be cyberbullied because of this and the fact that teens seem to use more harsh language than many adults. Teens use social media sites mainly to keep in touch with their friends and family and also to keep up to date with what is happening in the world. Although this is a very beneficial thing for students to use, it can also lead to negative behavior. In another part of Carly Seyer’s article, she mentions that, “eighty-eight percent of teens age 13-17 say they have a cell phone, and 90 percent of them say they use them to text” (Steyer). Cyberbullying does not just have to be on social media sites. It can also involve other sources of technology such as texting, emailing, or instant messaging. In a recent poll, several teens were surveyed to see what types of social media they use the most. Facebook was the most common with 41% of the votes.
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