Cyberbullying involves sending or posting harmful, humiliating content about others online. It most often occurs on social media, through texts or instant messages. Cyberbullying can negatively impact people's online reputations and be persistent, permanent, and hard to detect. Approximately 16-21% of students report being cyberbullied. Internet addiction is similar to gambling addiction, where one develops an emotional attachment to online activities and uses the internet as an escape. Warning signs include preoccupation, increased time online, failed attempts to reduce use, mood changes when reducing use, and lies about time spent online. Internet addiction disrupts relationships and social skills, and those suffering may create false online personas. Treatment involves counseling to determine

1. Cyber Bullying and
Internet Addiction
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONTROL?

3. 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:

4. • Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter
• SMS (Short Message Service) also known as Text Message sent through devices
• Instant Message (via devices, email provider services, apps, and social media
messaging features)
• Email

5. Special Concerns
• With the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts,
and content shared by individuals can often be viewed by strangers as well as
acquaintances. The content an individual shares online – both their personal content
as well as any negative, mean, or hurtful content – creates a kind of permanent public
record of their views, activities, and behavior. This public record can be thought of as
an online reputation, which may be accessible to schools, employers, colleges, clubs,
and others who may be researching an individual now or in the future.
Cyberbullying can harm the online reputations of everyone involved – not just the
person being bullied, but those doing the bullying or participating in it.
Cyberbullying has unique concerns in that it can be:

6. • Persistent – Digital devices offer an ability to immediately and continuously
communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be difficult for children experiencing
cyberbullying to find relief.
• Permanent – Most information communicated electronically is permanent and
public, if not reported and removed. A negative online reputation, including for
those who bully, can impact college admissions, employment, and other areas of
life.
• Hard to Notice – Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see
cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.

7. Frequency of Cyberbullying
• The 2014–2015 School Crime Supplement - PDF (National Center for Education
Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) indicates that, nationwide, about 21%
of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying.
• The 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention) also indicates that an estimated 16% of high school students
were bullied electronically in the 12 months prior to the survey.
• See also "Frequency of Bullying".
• Content last reviewed on February 07, 2018

9. What is Internet addiction?
• Internet addiction is described as an impulse control disorder, which does not
involve use of an intoxicating drug and is very similar to pathological
gambling. Some Internet users may develop an emotional attachment to on-line
friends and activities they create on their computer screens. Internet users may
enjoy aspects of the Internet that allow them to meet, socialize, and exchange
ideas through the use of chat rooms, social networking websites, or "virtual
communities." Other Internet users spend endless hours researching topics of
interest Online or "blogging". Blogging is a contraction of the term "Web log", in
which an individual will post commentaries and keep regular chronicle of
events. It can be viewed as journaling and the entries are primarily textual.

10. • Similar to other addictions, those suffering from Internet addiction use the
virtual fantasy world to connect with real people through the Internet, as a
substitution for real-life human connection, which they are unable to achieve
normally.

11. What are the warning signs of Internet addiction?
• Preoccupation with the Internet. (Thoughts about previous on-line activity or
anticipation of the next on-line session.)
• Use of the Internet in increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction.
• Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Internet use.
• Feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression, or irritability when attempting
to cut down use of the Internet.

12. • On-line longer than originally intended.
• Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational or career
opportunities because of Internet use.
• Lies to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of
involvement with the Internet.
• Use of the Internet is a way to escape from problems or to relieve a dysphoric
mood. (e.g. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.)

13. What are the effects?
• Internet addiction results in personal, family, academic, financial, and
occupational problems that are characteristic of other addictions. Impairments
of real life relationships are disrupted as a result of excessive use of the
Internet. Individuals suffering from Internet addiction spend more time in
solitary seclusion, spend less time with real people in their lives, and are often
viewed as socially awkward. Arguments may result due to the volume of time
spent on-line. Those suffering from Internet addiction may attempt to conceal
the amount of time spent on-line, which results in distrust and the disturbance of
quality in once stable relationships.

14. • Some suffering from Internet addiction may create on-line personas or profiles
where they are able to alter their identities and pretend to be someone other than
himself or herself. Those at highest risk for creation of a secret life are those who
suffer from low-self esteem feelings of inadequacy, and fear of
disapproval. Such negative self-concepts lead to clinical problems of depression
and anxiety.

15. How can someone get help?
• The first step is to determine if there is a problem. A Certified Addictions
Counselor trained in identification and treatment of Internet addiction can
effectively perform an assessment to determine what level of care is most
appropriate. For a free confidential assessment, call the Illinois Institute for
Addiction Recovery at (800) 522-3784. An assessment can be completed 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are always
welcome.