Cyber Bullying & Stalking

No-one needs to put up with being cyber bullied or stalked.

The same rules and laws apply online as they do in everyday life.

That means no-one has the right to bully another person

At its worst, cyber bullying/stalking is illegal and can dealt with by police.

You or a friend may find you are the target. there are ways to deal with this cowardly behavior.

What Is Cyber Bullying/Stalking?

It is when someone uses technology like the internet, mobile/smart phones, e-mail messages to intimidate, control, manipulate, or humiliate a selected victim.

Some of the things a cyber bully might do are:

  • Tell lies about you - about your work, home, friends, family members, or sexuality
  • Look out for, use and distort any information they come across in order to offend you
  • Make threats towards you or your friends - both verbal and physical
  • Impersonate you to get you in trouble, such as posting comments or pictures under your name on Facebook and other sites
  • Spread rumors about you to your family and friends
  • Interfere with your computer or mobile phone by changing voicemail settings and passwords
  • Tag you in inappropriate pictures
  • Track your email

Comments can involve:

  • Racist or religious slurs
  • References to your sexuality
  • Attempts to humiliate, denigrate or trick you 

Who Does It?

In most cases bullies are known to the victim and could be:

  • An ex-partner
  • A casual acquaintance
  • A work colleague
  • A customer
  • A school or college mate
  • A 'friend' or frenemy
  • A family member

How It Affects You

Cyber bullying and stalking is a traumatic experience which can lead to a lot of stress. You could suffer from:

  • Fear and anxiety
  • Nightmares
  • Feeling powerless or helpless
  • Feeling suspicious or wary of others
  • Depression
  • Guilt and self blame
  • Anger or irritability
  • A desire to withdraw socially
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
  • Worsening of an illness you already had
  • A reduction in work or school attendance

More Info

For more information on your rights, the laws that cover cyber bullying and stalking, and how to protect yourself, contact the SDA