Are bullying and cyberbullying the same?

Both bullying and cyberbullying are forms of bullying.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior between school-aged children, although many adults report bullying in different environments. Traditional bullying typically takes place in person and is thought of as a “schoolyard” event. Bullying may involve physical intimidation or acts of aggression or verbal acts like name-calling.

Cyberbullying takes place with digital devices like phones, tablets, and computers. It may take the form of texting, messaging inside apps, via social media, discussion forums, or over gaming platforms. Cyberbullying involves sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or cruel content about someone else. Sometimes it takes the form of sharing personal information about someone else to cause humiliation.

The two forms of bullying do have some differences. “Traditional” bullying is often associated with three characteristics: a power differential between bully and victim, a proactive targeting of a victim, and ongoing aggression. Emerging research shows that cyberbullying does not always involve these three characteristics. The traditional power differential of size and popularity don’t necessarily apply in the online environment. There’s also a more fluid delineation between the roles that youth play. Online it isn’t unusual for an individual to act in multiple capacities as bully, victim, and witness. Another difference is that many times children report unintentional acts as occurring online. Traditional bullying may be more intentional, whereas some online bullying rarely is associated with the planned targeting of a victim.

Bullying affects all parties involved, those who are bullied, those who engage in the bullying, and those who witness the bullying. The negative impacts on mental health include substance use, mental health difficulties, and the risk of suicide. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Depression and anxiety may occur in kids who are bullied, along with decreased academic achievement. Kids who bully others are more likely to abuse substances, get into fights, experience criminal convictions, and become abusive toward romantic partners or children as adults.

Where to go for help

If you’re experiencing bullying or cyberbullying, there are steps you can take to support yourself through the experience.

Suppose a child is being bullied in school, contact the teacher, school counselor, principal, and superintendent for help. If those methods don’t help, contact your state department of education for more resources.

If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm, contact your local emergency services or call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing hopelessness or suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Talking with a counselor for support in healing from or coping with ongoing bullying can be very helpful. Connecting your child or loved one with a therapist to help support their healing and cope through bullying experiences can make a powerful difference on the potential impacts of bullying of any type.