2011

Cyberbullying has become a major issue over the past few years and affects students, parents, and school systems. Up to half of all young people say they have been targets of digital bullying (Quaid, 2009). Many students are failing courses, attempting suicide, suffering from depression, anxiety, and even mental illness as a result of cyberbullying (Froeschle, Mayorga, Castillo, & Hargrave, 2008). Kowalski and Limber (2007) studied cyberbullying among 3,767 middle school students in United States and found that 11% were victims of cyberbullying, 7% were cyber-bullies and/or cybervictims, and 4% were cyber-bullies at least once over the past couple of months. Thirtysix percent of adolescents claimed to have been a victim of embarrassing or threatening remarks via technology (Opinion Research Corp., 2006). Many believe this phenomenon to be a rite of passage. The severity of consequences (depression, hopelessness, withdrawal, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, and even suicide; Froeschle et al., 2008; Strom & Strom, 2005; Willard, 2006), however; demand cyberbullying be taken seriously.