What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation.
Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
- Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
- Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
- Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet
- Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
- Online gaming communities
Cyberbullying can be done in different forms over the various online platform, some of the cyberbullying examples are given below for a better understanding of what is cyberbullying or anti-bullying:
- Humiliating/embarrassing content posted online about the victim of online bullying,
- Hacking of account
- Posting vulgar messages
- Threatening the victim to commit an act of violence
- Stalking
- Child pornography or threats of child pornography
Facts of cyberbullying
Statistics of cyberbullying which helps in discovering that bullying in schools kids is at the majority. To understand what is cyberbullying and how to stop bullying first let’s get to know some facts of the cyberbullying:
- 1 in 4 kids have been bullied more than once and in total 43% of the kids have fallen prey to cyberbullying or anti-bullying
- India ranks at number 3 in the list of online bullying cases as per the survey conducted by Microsoft in 2012 in 25 countries
- 70% of the cyberbullying or anti-bullying activities happen over facebook
- Usage of mobile phones by almost 80% of the teens makes it a common and most popular medium for anti-bullying
- It has been believed by the 81% of youth that getting away with online bullying is easy as compared to traditional bullying
- 90% of teens agree that have ignored the cyberbullying while some of the youth has taken a step to stop bullying
- Girls are more preferred victims of cyberbullying as compared to boys
- Victims of cyberbullying or anti-bullying are 2 to 9 times more prone to committing suicide
Cyberbullying laws in india
There is no specific legislation that provides for the specific cyberbullying laws in India however provisions such as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act deals with cyberbullying in a way.
Section 67 of the act prescribes punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees.
Other than Section 67 of the IT Act following are the provisions of the cyberbullying laws in India:
- Section 507 IPC : The section states that if anyone receives criminal intimidation by way of an anonymous communication then the person giving threats shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years. By virtue of word anonymous the offense of anti-bullying and cyberbullying is included in this section.
- Section 66 E of IT Act : The section prescribes punishment for violation of privacy. The section states that any person who intentionally violates the privacy by transmitting, capturing or publishing private pictures of others shall be punished with up to three years imprisonment or fine up to three lakhs.
Cases of cyberbullying:
- Shreya Singhal vs. union of India, Writ Petition (criminal) No. 167 of 2012.
- Vishaka vs state of Rajasthan AIR 1997 SC 3011.
- Mewa Ram v. A.I.I. Medical Science AIR 1989 SC 1256
“the doctrine of ‘equal pay for equal work’ is not an abstract doctrine. Equality must be among equal, unequal people cannot claim equality.”
- Consumer Education and Research Centre v. Union of India AIR SC (1995) 922 para [10]
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation.
Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
- Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
- Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
- Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet
- Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
- Online gaming communities
Cyberbullying can be done in different forms over the various online platform, some of the cyberbullying examples are given below for a better understanding of what is cyberbullying or anti-bullying:
- Humiliating/embarrassing content posted online about the victim of online bullying,
- Hacking of account
- Posting vulgar messages
- Threatening the victim to commit an act of violence
- Stalking
- Child pornography or threats of child pornography
Facts of cyberbullying
Statistics of cyberbullying which helps in discovering that bullying in schools kids is at the majority. To understand what is cyberbullying and how to stop bullying first let’s get to know some facts of the cyberbullying:
- 1 in 4 kids have been bullied more than once and in total 43% of the kids have fallen prey to cyberbullying or anti-bullying
- India ranks at number 3 in the list of online bullying cases as per the survey conducted by Microsoft in 2012 in 25 countries
- 70% of the cyberbullying or anti-bullying activities happen over facebook
- Usage of mobile phones by almost 80% of the teens makes it a common and most popular medium for anti-bullying
- It has been believed by the 81% of youth that getting away with online bullying is easy as compared to traditional bullying
- 90% of teens agree that have ignored the cyberbullying while some of the youth has taken a step to stop bullying
- Girls are more preferred victims of cyberbullying as compared to boys
- Victims of cyberbullying or anti-bullying are 2 to 9 times more prone to committing suicide
Cyberbullying laws in india
There is no specific legislation that provides for the specific cyberbullying laws in India however provisions such as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act deals with cyberbullying in a way.
Section 67 of the act prescribes punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees.
Other than Section 67 of the IT Act following are the provisions of the cyberbullying laws in India:
- Section 507 IPC : The section states that if anyone receives criminal intimidation by way of an anonymous communication then the person giving threats shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years. By virtue of word anonymous the offense of anti-bullying and cyberbullying is included in this section.
- Section 66 E of IT Act : The section prescribes punishment for violation of privacy. The section states that any person who intentionally violates the privacy by transmitting, capturing or publishing private pictures of others shall be punished with up to three years imprisonment or fine up to three lakhs.
Cases of cyberbullying:
- Shreya Singhal vs. union of India, Writ Petition (criminal) No. 167 of 2012.
- Vishaka vs state of Rajasthan AIR 1997 SC 3011.
- Mewa Ram v. A.I.I. Medical Science AIR 1989 SC 1256
“the doctrine of ‘equal pay for equal work’ is not an abstract doctrine. Equality must be among equal, unequal people cannot claim equality.”
- Consumer Education and Research Centre v. Union of India AIR SC (1995) 922 para [10]
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