Cyberbullying and digital risks: the new face of school bullying - school bullying

Two decades ago, when a student left school, the bullying ended. Their home was a safe haven. Today, that barrier has disappeared. The smartphone has extended the schoolyard to the bedroom, allowing bullying to be 24/7, viral and, often, anonymous. Cyberbullying is not simply "insults on the internet"; it is a complex phenomenon with specific criminal typologies that every teacher and parent should know how to identify. In this article we analyze the most serious digital threats: Cyberbullying, Sexting and Grooming.

Definition and Characteristics of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of telematic media (internet, mobile phones and online video games) to carry out psychological harassment among peers. It has unique characteristics that make it more dangerous than traditional bullying:

• Technical anonymity: The aggressor can hide behind a fake profile or an avatar, which increases their disinhibition and cruelty (online disinhibition effect). Not seeing the victim's face means the natural empathy that might curb aggression in person is not triggered.
• Virality and Permanence: A shove in the playground is seen by 20 people and forgotten. An embarrassing photo can be seen by 2,000 people in an hour and remain on the web forever. The digital footprint of bullying is indelible.
• Invasion of personal space: The victim receives threat notifications in their own bed, eliminating any sense of security.

Types of Digital Harassment

Not everything is an insult on WhatsApp. There are sophisticated forms of digital violence that we study in the course:

1. Sexting and Sextortion

Sexting consists of sending sexual content (mainly photographs and/or videos) produced by the sender themselves via mobile phone. In itself it is not harassment, but it is the gateway.

Sextortion occurs when someone threatens the victim with publishing those intimate images if they do not comply with their blackmail (which can be economic or sexual). It is a serious crime that often leads to suicide or severe psychological harm.

2. Grooming (Online Grooming)

It is one of the most dangerous threats. An adult pretends to be a minor on social networks or video games (Fortnite, Roblox) to gain the trust of a boy or girl for sexual purposes.

• Recruitment phase: The adult looks for vulnerable victims, gives them gifts in the game, or listens to them ("I understand you better than your parents").
• Isolation phase: Asks the minor to keep the relationship secret ("it's our special secret").
• Abuse phase: Requests intimate images or an in-person meeting.

3. Happy Slapping and Cyber Assault

It consists of physically assaulting a person while recording the attack with a mobile phone to then spread it on social networks. Here physical violence is only a means; the ultimate goal is public digital humiliation.

4. Impersonation (Fraping)

The aggressor accesses the victim's account (because they guessed the password or the victim left the session open) and posts offensive comments, false statements or insults to others in their name. The goal is to destroy the victim's social reputation and make their friends turn against them.

Prevention: Positive Digital Parenting

The solution is not to ban technology, but to educate on its use. Schools and families must work on:

Family Digital Contract: Establish clear rules about device use. "No phones in the bedroom at night".

Privacy and Digital Footprint: Teach minors that "the internet does not forget". Configure social media privacy settings together.

The 3-Second Rule: Before sending a message or photo, think for 3 seconds: Would I like my parents or my teachers to see this? If the answer is no, do not send it.

Combating cyberbullying requires constant updating. Aggressors are always one step ahead in technology; our responsibility as educators is not to fall behind in prevention.