Children communicate mostly on cellphones these days therefore most of the bullying and intimidation take place through social media and online platforms.
According to Rudi Smith of Skynet Forensics, based on the East Rand, cyber bullying can include anything offensive, humiliating, threatening or abusive that is directed at you on an electronic form of communication. This includes texts, emails, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, instant messaging and online games. Smith said many cases of cyber bullying can actually be deemed illegal.
“From our research, we found that up to 7 out of 10 young people experience cyber bullying before the age of 18. Cyber bullying comes in a whole range of different shapes and sizes and is something that is totally subjective to the recipient.
“We define cyber bullying as the use of digital technologies with an intent to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass or abuse somebody,” said Smith.
He pointed out that anybody can become a recipient of cyber bullying regardless of how old they are or the kind of job that they occupy.
“In fact, it is well documented that a lot of our favourite celebrities and role models also experience cyber bullying.”
Examples of cyber bullying include:
• Nasty messages online or on a mobile phone
• Comments on your posts or posts about you
• Being excluded from online groups and forums
• Embarrassing photos put online without your permission
• Rumours and lies about you on a website
• Offensive chat on online gaming
• Fake online profiles being created with an intent to defame you
Understandably the victim or the bully might delete messages because they are afraid that their parents might see them. Smith indicated that there is a way to retrieve deleted messages and to get to the bottom of cyber bullying.
The Boksburg Magistrates Court advised that for any information extracted on a mobile phone to hold up in court, parents need to first apply for a court order.
For more information contact Skynet Forensics on 079 935 9780 or email info@skynetforensics.com
