Editing Cyberbullying (section)

== Law enforcement ==
A majority of states have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within stalking or harassment laws.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=http://www.victimsofcrime.org/docs/src/cyberstalking---dangers-on-the-information-superhighway.pdf?sfvrsn=2|title=Cyberstalking: dangers on the information superhighway|last1=Gregorie|first1=Trudy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328084720/http://www.victimsofcrime.org/docs/src/cyberstalking---dangers-on-the-information-superhighway.pdf?sfvrsn=2|archive-date=March 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cyberstalking, cyberharassment and cyberbullying|url=http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/cyberbullying.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024827/http://www.ncsl.org/research/telecommunications-and-information-technology/cyberstalking-and-cyberharassment-laws.aspx|archive-date=September 6, 2015|website=NCSL National Conference of State Legislatures}}</ref><ref>[http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.61.260 Cyberstalking] Washington State Legislature</ref> Most law enforcement agencies have cyber-crime units, and Internet stalking is often treated with more seriousness than reports of physical stalking.<ref>{{cite web|title = Back Off, Bully!|last = Bailey|first = Melissa|date = May 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What Is Cyberstalking?|url=http://www.cla.purdue.edu/people/engl/blackmon/101cresources/cyberstalking.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227054307/http://www.cla.purdue.edu/people/engl/blackmon/101cresources/cyberstalking.htm|archive-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref> Help and resources can be searched by state or area.

=== Schools ===
The safety of online privacy issues in schools is increasingly becoming a focus of state legislative action. There was an increase in cyberbullying enacted legislation between 2006 and 2010.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/cyberbullying.aspx Cyberbullying Enacted Legislation: 2006–2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609000529/http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/cyberbullying.aspx |date=June 9, 2013 }} Legislation by State, NCSL</ref> Initiatives and curriclulum requirements also exist in the UK (the ''Ofsted eSafety guidance'') and Australia (''Overarching Learning Outcome 13'').

In 2012, a group of teenagers in a design class [[New Haven, Connecticut]] developed an application to help fight bullying, "Back Off Bully" (BOB). This is an anonymous resource for computer, smart phone or iPad, designed so when someone witnesses or is the victim of bullying, they can immediately report the incident. The app asks questions about time, location and how the bullying is happening, as well as provides positive action and empowerment regarding the incident. The reported information goes to a database, where it may be studied by administrators. Common threads are spotted so others can intervene and break the bully's pattern.<ref>[http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/south/12007792580056/ct-teens-develop-bullying-app-to-protect-peers/ CT teens develop bullying app to protect peers] 7 News; June 2012 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622100810/http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/south/12007792580056/ct-teens-develop-bullying-app-to-protect-peers/ |date=June 22, 2012 }}</ref> "Back Off Bully" is being considered as standard operating procedure at schools across Connecticut, while recent studies carried out among 66 high school teachers have concluded that prevention programs have proved ineffective to date.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1002/pits.21603 | volume=49| issue=4|year=2012|journal=Psychology in the Schools|pages=352–367 | last1 = Stauffer | first1 = Sterling |title = High school teachers' perceptions of cyberbullying prevention and intervention strategies| last2 = Allen Heath | first2 = Melissa | last3 = Marie Coyne | first3 = Sarah | last4 = Ferrin | first4 = Scott| url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3777&context=etd}}</ref>

Teachers can also be cyberbullied by pupils,<ref name=durangoherald20151029/><ref name=RTE2018-11-08a/> as well as by parents and other school staff.<ref name=RTE2018-11-08a/>

=== Protection ===
There are laws that only address online harassment of children or focus on child predators, as well as laws that protect adult cyberstalking victims, or victims of any age. Currently, there are 45 cyberstalking (and related) laws on the books. While some sites specialize in laws that protect victims age 18 and under, Working to Halt Online Abuse is a help resource containing a list of current and pending cyberstalking-related United States federal and state laws.<ref>[http://www.haltabuse.org/resources/laws/index.shtml Current and pending cyberstalking-related United States federal and state laws] WHOA</ref> It also lists those states that do not yet have laws, and related laws from other countries. The Global Cyber Law Database (GCLD) aims to become the most comprehensive and authoritative source of cyber laws for all countries.<ref>[http://www.cyberlawdb.com/main/ The Global Cyber Law Database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620182226/http://www.cyberlawdb.com/main/ |date=June 20, 2012 }} GCLD</ref>

Several states, including Florida, California,<ref>{{cite web |title=Know Your Student Rights |url=https://www.sandiegounified.org/know-your-student-rights |website=San Diego Unified School District |access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> and Missouri have passed laws against cyberbullying. California prohibits the use of an electronic device to cause someone to fear for their life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Penal Code, Sec. 653.2 |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=653.2 |website=California Legislative Information |publisher=California State Legislature |access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> In Florida, the "Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act" prohibits any type of bullying including cyberbullying. In Missouri, anyone who violently threatens someone over social media can be convicted with a Class A misdemeanor, but if the victim is seventeen years or younger, they can be convicted with a Class D felony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Missouri Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies |url=https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws/missouri |website=stopbullying.gov |access-date=May 25, 2020 |date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>

=== Age ===
Children report negative online behaviors occurring from the second grade. According to research, boys initiate negative online activity earlier than girls. However, by middle school, girls are more likely to engage in cyberbullying than boys.<ref>{{cite news|last1=MacDonald|first1=Gregg|date=September 1, 2010|title=Cyber-bullying defies traditional stereotype: Girls are more likely than boys to engage in this new trend, research suggests|work=Fairfax Times|url=http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=2078|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526084157/http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=2078|archive-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref> Whether the bully is male or female, the purpose of childhood bullying is to intentionally embarrass, harass, intimidate, or make threats online.

Studies on the psycho-social effects of cyberspace have begun to monitor the effects cyberbullying may have on the victims. Consequences of cyberbullying are multi-faceted, and affect both online and offline behavior. Research on adolescents reported that changes in the victims' behavior as a result of cyberbullying could potentially be positive. Victims "created a cognitive pattern of bullies, which consequently helped them to recognize aggressive people."<ref name="cyberpsychology.eu">[http://www.cyberpsychology.eu/view.php?cisloclanku=2011121901&article=4 Cyberbullying in Adolescent Victims: Perception and Coping] Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace</ref>

However, the ''Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace'' abstract reports critical impacts in almost all of the respondents, taking the form of lower self-esteem, loneliness, disillusionment, and distrust of people. The more extreme effects included [[self-harm]]. Children have killed each other and committed [[suicide]] after cyberbullying incidents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html |title=Stop Cyberbullying |publisher=Stop Cyberbullying |date=June 27, 2005 |access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref> Some cases of digital self-harm have been reported in which an individual engages in cyberbullying against themselves, or purposefully and knowingly exposes themselves to cyberbullying.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Topping|first=Alexandra|title=Cyberbullying on social networks spawning form of self-harm|journal=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/06/cyberbullying-social-networks-self-harm|access-date=August 6, 2013|date=August 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Englander|first=Elizabeth|title=Digital Self-Harm: Frequency, Type, Motivations, and Outcomes|journal=MARC Research Reports|date=June 2012|volume=5|url=http://vc.bridgew.edu/marc_reports/5}}</ref>

=== Adults ===
Cyberstalking may be an extension of physical stalking,<ref name=":6">https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/australian_covert_bullying_prevalence_study_chapter_1.pdf</ref> and may have criminal consequences. A target's understanding of why cyberstalking is happening is helpful to remedy and take protective action. Among factors that motivate stalkers are [[envy]], pathological obsession (professional or sexual), unemployment or failure with own job or life, or the desire to intimidate and cause others to feel inferior. The stalker may be [[delusional]] and believe he/she "knows" the target. The stalker wants to instill fear in a person to justify his/her status, or may  believe they can get away with these actions due to online anonymity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/cyberstalking/3.html |author=Wayne Petherick |title=Cyber-Stalking:Obsessional Pursuit and the Digital Criminal |date=2009 |work=TrueTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209045152/http://trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/cyberstalking/3.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009  }}</ref>

The US federal cyberstalking law is designed to prosecute people for using electronic means to repeatedly harass or threaten someone online. There are resources dedicated to helping adult victims deal with cyberbullies legally and effectively. One of the steps recommended is to record everything and contact police.<ref>[http://wiredsafety.org/subjects/cyberbullying.php Cyberbullying] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524084352/https://www.wiredsafety.org/subjects/cyberbullying.php |date=May 24, 2015 }} Stalking and Harassment</ref><ref name=":7">[http://voices.yahoo.com/what-cyberbullies-adults-11081994.html What to Do About Cyberbullies: For Adults] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729033508/http://voices.yahoo.com/what-cyberbullies-adults-11081994.html |date=July 29, 2014 }}, by Rena Sherwood; YAHOO Contributor network</ref>