Cyberbullying occurs when a person (often a child, preteen or teenager) is bullied, harassed, humiliated, threatened, embarrassed, or targeted in someway by another person (often another young person) through the use of internet, cell phones and other forms of digital technology. In order for it to be cyber-bullying, the intent must be to cause emotional distress, and there must be no legitimate purpose to the communication.[1] Cyberbullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech). Though the use of sexual remarks and threats are sometimes present in cyber-bullying, it is not the same as sexual harassment and does not involve sexual predators. Cyber-bullies may disclose victims' personal data (e.g. real name or workplace/schools) at websites or forums, or may attempt to assume the identity of a victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them. Some cyber-bullies may also send threatening emails and instant messages to the victims. The content in these messages are often so strong that a victim may commit suicide. Suicide is rare but strong bullying material is more common. Some may post victims' photos, or victims' edited photos like defaming captions or pasting victims' faces on nude bodies.

Certain characteristics inherent in online technologies increase the likelihood that they will be exploited for deviant purposes.[2] Firstly, electronic bullies can remain virtually anonymous using temporary email accounts, pseudonyms in chat rooms, instant messaging programs, cell-phone text messaging, and other Internet venues to mask their identity; this perhaps frees them from normative and social constraints on their behavior. Furthermore, cyber-bullies might be emboldened when using electronic means to carry out their antagonistic agenda because it takes less energy and courage to express hurtful comments using a keypad or a keyboard than with one’s voice.

Second, electronic forums can often lack supervision. While chat hosts regularly observe the dialog in some chat rooms in an effort to police conversations and evict offensive individuals, personal messages sent between users (such as electronic mail or text messages) are viewable only by the sender and the recipient, and therefore outside the regulatory reach of such authorities. In addition, teenagers often know more about computers and cellular phones than their parents or guardians and are therefore able to operate the technologies without worry or concern that a probing parent will discover their experience with bullying (whether as a victim or offender).

Thirdly, the inseparability of a cellular phone from its owner makes that person a perpetual target for victimization. Users often need to keep their phone turned on for legitimate purposes, which provides the opportunity for those with malicious intentions to engage in persistent unwelcome behavior such as harassing telephone calls or threatening and insulting statements via the cellular phone’s text messaging capabilities. Cyber-bullying thus penetrates the walls of a home, traditionally a place where victims could seek refuge from other forms of bullying.

One possible advantage for victims of cyber-bullying over traditional bullying is that they may be able to avoid it simply by avoiding the site/chat room in question. Email addresses and phone numbers can be changed; in addition, most e-mail accounts now offer services that will automatically filter out messages from certain senders before they even reach the inbox, and phones offer similar caller ID functions. Unfortunately, this obviously does not protect against all forms of cyber bullying; publishing of defamatory material about a person on the internet is extremely difficult to prevent and once it is posted, millions of people can potentially downlo

Adults are vulnerable as are children and the anonymity of the offender makes it harder to deal with it. Emails, the Internet and telephones are used. Humiliating or threatening material may circulate on a large scale before the person targeted knows anything is wrong. Sometimes the victim is stronger than the bully. Guidelines by the UK Government should help children victimized by cyber bullies. The problems of adults were overlooked. Adults who work in schools are at risk. Catering staff, librarians teaching assistants, teachers and head teachers can be targeted. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers found that 17% of its members had suffered cyber-bullying. There have been rape threats and death threats online. Photographs of a victim have been added to pornographic images.

Bullies can be anonymous or can live abroad outside British jurisdiction. The website may also be outside British jurisdiction. A representative of British public service workers wants website hosts to be more responsible over preventing offensive matter getting to their sites and to introduce complaints procedures. Schools and colleges should have policies to protect staff from cyber-bullying and discipline perpetrators.

Cyber-bullying affects the health and safety of staff and employers have a legal duty to protect staff. Schools and Colleges should insist that offensive material is removed from websites. Criminally offensive material should be reported to the police with the victim’s consent. Appointing a government ombudsman to investigate complaints about cyber-bullying is recommended. The British Government should take the problems of adult victims as seriously as child victims are taken. There should be respect for both pupils and staff. Bullies should be dealt with “appropriately” though there will never be agreement over what is appropriate. Those who know about bullying and take no action are also guilty.