What is Cyberbullying?
The Education Act defines cyberbullying as bullying by electronic means, which includes: (1) creating a web page or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person; (2) impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet; and (3) communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals. As well, social aggression may occur through the use of technology by spreading rumours, images, or hurtful comments through the use of e-mail, cell phones, text messaging, Internet websites, social networking, or other technology.1
Cyberbullying includes the use of information and communication technologies, such as email, cell phone, social networks, pager text messages, instant messaging and websites, to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour that is intended to harm others. (Source: Bill Belsey, www.cyberbullying.ca)
Media used by cyberbullies includes:
- Electronic Communication (email, website, chat room, blog, forums)
- Social Networks (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter)
- Video Sharing: YouTube
- Opinion Polling (Ratemyteachers.com).
Criminal Code
It is a criminal offence to communicate repeatedly with someone if the communication causes them (reasonably) to fear for their own safety or the safety of others.
Civil Liability
Defamation involves writing something designed to insult a person or hurt a person’s reputation by exposing him or her to hatred, contempt or ridicule.
Ontario Human Rights Code
Violation: If one discriminates against or harasses another person in the provision of services, goods or facilities (for students), or employment (for staff) based on age, ancestry, citizenship, creed, colour, ethnic origin, disability, marital status, race, place of origin, family status, sex or sexual orientation (and, in the case of employment, record of offences).
Education Act
Bullying is aggressive and typically repeated behaviour by a student where the behaviour is intended by the student to have the effect of, or the student ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of, causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or creating a negative environment at a school for another individual.2 Bullying occurs in the context of a real or perceived power imbalance, based on such factors as: size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identify, gender expression, race, disability or the receipt of special education.3