As Technology Evolves, so does Cyberbullying

As technology has progressed, so have our capabilities of using it. While this has led to significant improvements in how we can live, it has also made it much easier for us to distress and harass others. This is a big, growing problem, so it is critical to know how to take a stand against it, both at home, and in the workplace.

The Cybersmile Foundation was created on June 17th, 2012, to spread awareness of this issue and promote online inclusivity over toxic harassment and abuse. Alas, their efforts are very much needed, as cyberbullying is still a widespread problem.

What is a Cyberbully?

A cyberbully is basically what it sounds like: someone who torments others via a digital medium. Common media for a cyberbully to leverage include social media, online forums, texting and instant messaging. Since this form of harassment doesn’t require the bully and their target to literally be in the same place, there is a much greater timeframe of opportunity for this kind of bullying to occur. While many cyberbullies work alone, it isn’t uncommon for groups of people to engage in such activities cooperatively. Not only can this kind of bullying be very public, it can more insidiously be kept private, and many cyberbullies act anonymously to hide their own identities. Even worse, a total stranger may be the one to target someone as a victim of their attacks.

What makes cyberbullying so insidious is the fact that the target may not even be aware that it is going on. For example: if cruel things are being said on a social media platform or profile that the target cannot access, the only way they will find out is if someone says something, which doesn’t always happen.

Cyberbullying at Work

While it may be known best as something that kids and adolescents have to deal with, cyberbullying has afflicted all age groups. This has only become more true in an increasingly digital workplace, where tools like email, instant messaging, and social media are leveraged for their productivity benefits. Thus, it's no surprise that the workplace is becoming prime hunting grounds for cyberbullies. A study that polled almost 3,000 people found that 96 percent had been on the receiving end of workplace bullying.

Whether this cyberbullying takes the shape of gossip over instant messages between conspiring coworkers or a superior that sends abusive and unpleasant emails at intentionally inconvenient times, it creates a hostile work environment that erodes motivation and engagement and makes collaboration nearly impossible.

What Can Be Done

There are actions that the recipient of cyberbullying and their employer can take to stop this kind of unprofessional and hurtful behavior from happening

If the recipient of cyberbullying is aware of the situation, they need to remain calm and speak up for themselves. Calmly and rationally,, the recipient should inform the perpetrating coworker that the behavior needs to stop. Taking the high road, as it is with most interpersonal confrontations, is the best option when harassment is involved.

The receiving employee should also start gathering evidence. This will help them support their position if the time should they need to lodge a formal complaint. Keeping emails, social media posts, and other examples that they feel constitute abusive and hurtful behavior will give them what they need. Additionally, they should also educate themselves on their rights as they pertain to their personal information. If something private has been shared by the cyberbully, there could have been some laws broken. Neither defamation nor data protection are laughing matters.

An employer should want to construct a working environment that runs smoothly, making it more likely to be productive. Harassment and cyberbullying can wreck or at least halt operations, so it only makes sense that an employer would want it to stop. Also, the employer needs to make it clear to their employees that cyberbullying will not be tolerated. To do this, there should be a policy implemented that informs their employees what conduct will and will not be tolerated between employees, inside and outside of the office and work hours. This policy should be introduced during a new employee orientation, and if the issue was widespread enough, reviewed among the staff after an instance of workplace cyberbullying.

For more information about cyberbullying, visit the official Stop Cyberbullying Day website. Technology is meant to help us grow as businesses, as people, and as a society, not to abuse or harrass others. We are all in this together.