The Y-Generation and Female Bullying

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

The Global Institute for Cyber Safety and Standards

Recent reports describe the Y-generation, specifically the 20 or 30 somethings, as being less tolerant of online bullying than other generations. Some say this can be attributed to younger people having grown up with more anti-bullying campaigns in school. Having more information on what constitutes bullying theoretically makes them more vocal against it and less likely to put up with it.  Despite this however, internet harassment, especially in the workplace, does not appear to be slowing down. 

Something of particular interest is the distinction between the harassment perpetrated by men as opposed to women. Woman-on-woman bullying  is actually on the rise, according to Dr. Gary Namie, psychologist and co-founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute, “Bullies are of both genders, but women bullies tend to disrupt relations or pit worker against worker. Men would rather push people around to show hierarchy.”  Regardless, it is becoming clear that the damage inflicted by online bullying can have more traumatic impact than even in-person sexual harassment. This is perhaps because online harassment tends to be much more personalised usually touching on a target’s deepest insecurities which is a common mode of female harassment across the board. 

Statistics also show that over 80 percent of female bullies choose female targets where the bullying typically involves ostracising a victim to spreading rumors or betraying trust. As surprising as it may be to find this kind of activity in the adult workplace, it continues to be a significant problem that only some employers take seriously.  Polls indicate that the vast majority of women experiencing this kind of negativity at work, believe their supervisors and bosses consider it a trivial matter and therefore must endure an abusive environment.  

Cyber-Stalking Is Not About Sex

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

The Global Institute for Cyber Safety and Standards 

The psychology of cyber-stalking remains largely misunderstood with many incorrectly assuming it involves an element of sexual obsession. Research findings point to other factors. It is seen as motivated by hostility and aggressive behaviours stemming from power and control issues rather than material gain or sexual obsession. Cyber-stalking is fueled by rage and anger that, in many cases, is triggered by a victim’s action or inaction. The research suggests the number of cyber-stalking incidents will continue to mount, in part, because the internet presently provides a safe-haven in which an offender can theoretically hide and conceal their identity behind a shroud of anonymity. This is one of the primary differences between real-world stalking and that of the cyber-variety. Because these stalkers typically have a high level of computer proficiency and aptitude, they can be more skilled at avoiding or evading detection and therefore, accountability. Also, whereas in traditional stalking cases the offender and victim often live or work within relatively close proximity, cyber-stalkers could be harassing their victim from next door, a library in the next state, or even another country. 

Cyber-stalking rarely involves direct physical contact and so, unfortunately, most police officers intaking reports of this crime tend to minimize their seriousness and dismiss the victim’s fears as a nuisance. This is beginning to change in the UK for example as stricter more serious resolutions are passed, but in the US this is still much the case. In reality, cyber-stalking cases can easily escalate to other more dangerous and disturbed behaviours, some ending in violence and death.

An oft overlooked aspect to cyber-stalking is that it doesn’t necessarily include one perpetrator. Even though most stalkers act alone, the internet has made it much easier for cyber-stalkers to conspire and incite third-parties to harass victims in chat rooms, discussion boards, and other social networking platforms. In fact, researchers have coined the term ”stalking by proxy” to describe the process by which cyber-stalkers lure others such as family members and friends to aid in harassing the victim. Some cyber-stalkers have even been known to hire private investigators to follow and report on the victim’s daily activities and whereabouts. 

There is no doubt cyber-stalking continues to evolve at an astonishing rate in all parts of the world. With each new development in technology, a new avenue for cyber-stalkers opens up. Part of the solution must come from the allowance of law agencies everywhere to use the same technologies being developed, to swiftly identify and act. At current trends, this is becoming vitally necessary – and something, by the way, that supersedes any bickering about free speech as is bandied about so much in America in particular due to their constitutional documents their society is based upon.

Risky business

By Abigail Clarke: Contributing Content Blogger 

Cyber victims around the world need to know they are not alone!  There are people out there who understand this problem and can be trusted. They need to know there are still people with integrity and honor. The abusive and hateful nature we see on the internet today is a result of people allowed too much freedom.  Human nature tends toward chaos and lawlessness when not governed. Laws must be in place to give society structure, and they are in place for a multitude of other situations already. The internet however is not structured as much as it should be and lacks proper laws that would prevent the heartache and severe damage occurring in people’s lives right now worldwide.  

Adults act like children and children act like reckless adults. Existing cyber laws vary from country to country and in many cases are lacking completely. There is no international governance and no consistency. How then can we expect people to be kind to one another when they have the avenue to unleash their own pent up pain and self hate against others they don’t even know and in many cases they can do it without being identified.