The word “cyberbullying” refers to rude, unwanted, hostile, and aggressive behavior that sometimes occurs in public and is carried out using online technology to frighten and harm the victims. Cyberbullying is the use of electronic or wireless means to perpetrate verbal or interpersonal bullying. Due to its growing prevalence and detrimental implications, this phenomenon is gaining greater attention for the judiciary exams by various RJS Coaching institutes.
Due to the multiple possibilities for communication that advancements in technologies have made possible, particularly among adults and younger adolescents, cyberbullying has emerged over the past 10 to 12 years as an emerging form of violent conduct in the realm of electronic communication.
Roots of Cyberbullying
The root cause of cyberbullying that is consistently discussed by expert teachers in the RJS Coaching are as follows:
- Absence of parental supervision over children’s computer and internet usage.
- Insufficient understanding of computers or the internet
- Racial, cultural, or religious distinctions among the offender as well as the victim
- Lack of knowledge about proper conduct on the internet
- It is not directly brought on by a single reason; rather, a number of risk factors unite to increase the chance of bullying.
- Bullies are more inclined to be male, to be in lower levels of education, and to be close friends with other bullies. The majority of victims come from troubled households.
- Low self-esteem is another danger indicator for victims as well as bullies.
Consequences of Cyberbullying
- The social well-being of victims is especially adversely affected, and responses from schools and students are usually inappropriate, nonexistent, or inadequate.
- However, the severity of the repercussions felt by cyberbullying victims varies depending on a number of contextual factors, such as whether confidentiality exists or not or whether witnesses are present.
- It is also a serious psychological problem because victims of cyberbullying may be considerably more common than those of traditional bullying, leading to feeling exposed and concerned about how others might view them one of the most upsetting aspects for those who experience it.
Landmarks Judgements: Cyber Bullying
The instructors at various institutes providing RJS Coaching have discussed these landmark cases:
- In the case of Rittika Sharma, who attended a reputable Delhi school and to whom she had given all of her contact information, including her home address, her school’s address, and even her cell phone number, was harassed by a Facebook friend she had unfriended months before. All of the students were instructed not to provide their personal information to strangers at an awareness event that Delhi police organized following this occurrence.
- In the case of Ritu Kohli, she complained in 2001 that somebody was impersonating her identity on social media and that she was purposefully receiving calls from several numbers, including calls from abroad. Additionally, a case was brought under the virtue of Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code. The offender was taken into the custody of police. It served as an advisory to the government to enact legislation making this crime illegal and offering victim protection.
Preventive Measures Taken to Prevent Cyberbullying
- The IT Act of 2006 went into effect in order to ensure legal identification for the electronic transmission of data. Computer-related offenses can result in penalties of up to three to five years in prison, a fine of one lakh rupees, or both, and in severe cases, even more.
- The Indian Penal Code’s many provisions make it clear what constitutes a cybercrime.
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that protects adolescents under the age of 18 from the heinous acts of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and pornography.
Initiative by the Government: Combatting Cyberbullying
- The Government of India launched this effort as part of the Nirbhaya funding scheme in 2013 to ensure the security of women and children. A single emergency number, i.e., 112 was created by the Ministry of Home to handle any incidents that required rapid assistance from the police, fire department, or rescue team, among other services.
- The cybercrime prevention against women and children system has numerous divisions that are responsible for reporting online criminal activity and related investigations, looking into complaints of cybercrime, and recognizing any worrying cybercrime circumstances.
- The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal permits the registration of cybercrime complaints, allowing victims and complainants to readily access cybercrime cells and all relevant details. This enables the submission of complaints regarding cybercrimes across the nation. Instead of filing a formal complaint, the victim of a crime might register with a local cybercrime cell.
Conclusion
Teenagers frequently confront the issue of cyberbullying. Every day, more cases are reported. They experience growth issues as a consequence of the online bullying they face. Bullies are not strictly punished by the law. Being a developing center for information technology, cyberbullying is one of the problems that are becoming increasingly common. It requires attention from legislators. Awareness campaigns must be planned so that instructors and parents may quickly detect this issue in their children. They must assist the victim in getting well after the incident and leading a healthy life.
