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ABSTRACT
This exploratory study of 168 undergraduate students examined the perceptions of college students about cyberbullying. The study focused on students' knowledge of the topic, opinions about cyberbullying, and personal experiences they may have had as either a victim or a witness of cyberbullying. Reporting of cyberbullying incidents was also explored, and participants were asked to indicate what can or should be done to prevent cyberbullying.
Keywords: Social networking, Student perceptions, Student expectations
1. INTRODUCTION
Most people can probably remember a bully that harassed or threatened someone on the school playground. With traditional bullying the victim would come in contact, either verbally or physically, with the bully. Along with the progression of technology came a new form of bullying known as cyberbullying. The National Crime Prevention Council (2012) defines cyberbullying as "the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person." Cyberbullying occurs when youth repeatedly use technology to threaten or harass their peers (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010a).
While both bullying and cyberbullying have many things in common, there are some distinct differences. Unlike traditional forms of bullying where the victim is confronted by the bully, cyberbullying allows the offender to mask his or her identity behind the screen of a computer or mobile device (Donegan, 2011). The cyberbully can contact the victim by using anonymous email addresses, pseudonyms, or by creating fictitious accounts through the use of social media. Attacks on a victim of cyberbullying can potentially go viral, attracting a large audience of viewers who can potentially join in on the bullying. Cyberbullying has brought the bully into a person's private space, following them into their home, school, or while at play. With the use of modem technology the target can be harassed 24 hours per day. We live in a time where technology helps make our lives easier. But that same technology can also be abused, enabling this new form of bullying.
This exploratory study examined the perceptions of college students about cyberbullying, focusing on students' knowledge of the topic as well as their personal experiences, both past and present. Students were asked to identify themselves as either a victim or a witness to cyberbullying of...