Who Cyberbullies?

Traditional bullying often results because a child’s physical or social stature may be smaller than the bully’s, but that is not always the case with Cyberbullying. Unfortunately, the anonymous and technical nature of the Internet opens doors for all kinds of children to participate in bullying.

Experts have narrowed the list to four main types of cyberbullies.

The Vengeful Angel- This type of cyberbully does not see him/herself as a bully, but rather as an avenger of the weak, of the bullied. They’re not bullying, they’re simply righting wrongs.

The Power-hungry Or Revenge of the Nerds- This cyberbully likes the feeling of power over others. This type of cyberbully is very much related to a traditional bully, and is oftentimes a victim of traditional bullying. They may have more technical skills and the anonymity of the Internet makes them feel invincible.

“Mean Girls”- If you’ve seen the movie, think Regina, Gretchen and Karen go wired. These cyberbullies like to plan their attacks in groups for pure entertainment. Again, it’s about power, but not necessarily anonymity. These bullies need an audience and need approval from the “group” as their reward.

The Inadvertent Cyberbully- Inadvertent bullies do not think they’re bullies at all. They may be playing a prank on a friend, trying out a new online identity, or responding to someone who attacked them. Though this type of cyberbullying is unintentional, it can still damage others significantly.