When someone is using information technology to harass or harm other people through an electronic device, it is called cyber bullying. This electronics technology uses devices such as computers, phones, and websites. In most cases, it happens across several mediums such as social networks, instant messaging and text messaging. Likewise, it may take place through the chat rooms and online platforms. Some of the common types of cyber bullying that are happening in the society are such as harassment and sharing of personal information about others without their knowledge. Equally important, there is a lot of impersonating, heated exchanges of information and defaming. To find out how this cyber bullying is happening in the society, there are a number of factors that have to be taken into consideration. For example, the platforms used in cyberbullying, such as social networking. In addition, elements such as sexual orientations and gender are also used to measure the problem of cyber bullying in the society (Hartjen, and Priyadarsini, 2012).
Cyber bullying can be measured using gender in the society. Most of the research that has been done on the issues of cyber bullying shows that the number of the females affected by cyber bullying is higher than that of the male in the society. Furthermore, the female they are more likely to engage in cyber bullying behaviors than men. The common ways that women use in cyber bullying are such as using the social network site to embarrass or harm others. Additionally, most of them post unwanted photos of others online knowing that they are affecting other people's well being. On the other hand, a good number of males have admitted at one time that they have sent or posted emails to anger others. It is clear when it comes to the problem of cyber bullying in society that the female are the most affected gender in the society.
Another element that is used to measure the cyber bullying in the society is the use of sexual orientation. The groups of lesbian, bisexual and gay (LGB) in the community, have a high chance to be cyber bullied than other groups of the heterosexuals in the society. These groups of LGB are more bullied using electronic devices the way it happens in the physical world. According to the Cyberbullying research center, the non-heterosexuals had admitted having cyber bullied other groups than the heterosexuals. Furthermore, the members of LGB community are more effected when it comes to cyber bullying in the society than the heterosexual community.
Social values are the standards that are used by the community to measure the social behavior which is derived from social interaction. These Social values ought to be accepted by the society because they constitute facts of social structure. These values have the objectives that conditions desire; thus they have the influence that defines the social problem. On the other hand, these social values can be used to shape the way a society will respond to the problem facing the society. Without the social values, it will be difficult to judge and evaluate social interaction, feelings and expected conduct from the individual behavior (Hartjen, and Priyadarsini, 2012). However, if the problem is socially created by people's beliefs, opinions and values that are conditioned by the society they are living in other ways are involved..
The values will provide the community with uniformities and stabilities in a group interaction. They hold the society together since they are shared by the community. Therefore, it will be easier for the community to note the problem such as cyber bullying that is affecting almost all genders and social classes in the society. When necessary social values are shared commonly in the community, which makes all the members of the society to see the sense of living as one community. This it will enable the community to identify and shape the challenges that are facing them. This is due to the fact that no individual can send their social norms of the society rather than following what the society accepts as right or wrong (In Cruz-Cunha et al., 2015).The influence of social value in the society has led to the introduction of legitimacy to the rules that are used to govern specific activities in the society. These rules are the ones that are used to counter check if the society accepts an individual behavior (In Cruz-Cunha et al., 2015). For instance, social rules are accepted and followed because they bring together the values that most of the people accept.
When the values have been used to identify the societal problem, it becomes easier for the organization to bring some adjustment between the different sets of rules. People tend to perform the same kind of objectives in different fields in lives hence it will be possible for the society to modify the law that will shape the society. For instance, the society is now moving in a positive direction towards eliminating all forms of cyber bullying by introducing rules that punish those who are found bullying others in the society. The individuals can stop the challenges of cyber bullying at the individual level by adopting strategies that will work for them. For example, one may choose to block the bully if the harassment is coming from the test or instant messages using the privacy tools of your devices. In addition, one needs to be civilized and treat other people the same way they would want them to be treated by them. Likewise, people may also choose to be a friend with other people instead of bullying them online (In Cruz-Cunha et al., 2015). Lastly, it is advisable that once they spot someone sending billing information, they should stop that kind of action. If they cannot stop the bully, then, they are advised to try and take the legal action of reporting the victim to any security institution near you.
The community can reduce the problem of cyber bullying by creating digital citizens. It is advisable for the society to start educating the young generation the same rules that society has adopted. These rules if accepted in the society of the digital world, then it will be possible to reduce the rate of cyber bullying that is widely practiced by the young generation in the society (In Cruz-Cunha et al., 2015). Although there are no direct laws, that are addressing the issues of cyber bullying, in some case some of the elements are addressed within other laws based on discriminatory harassments. Some of these laws are based on the sex, disability and race, thus at the federal law level the country can bring the suspect of cyber bullying based of discriminatory harassments. However, the federal government should do more by passing the law that will enable security institutions to track those who are carrying out cyber bullying using electronic devices. At the school level, all the learning institutions should work hand in hand with all stakeholders to protect victimized students from any form of cyber bullying.
In conclusion, the rate of cyber bullying has been on the increase in contemporary society. There are several causes that bring about cyber bullying. However, several ways have been suggested to provide a solution to the societal problem. If all the people can work together using the community values, then, theses kind of threat can be eliminated with time from the society.
References
Hartjen, C. A., & Priyadarsini, S. (2012). The global victimization of children: Problems and solutions. New York: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
In Cruz-Cunha, M. M., In Portela, I. M., & IGI Global,. (2015). Handbook of research on digital crime, cyberspace security, and information assurance.
