For my assignment, the topic that I would like to focus on is cyberbullying. My preliminary research question is: what is cyberbullying and what effects does it have on the youth of today?
I know that cyberbullying is a rather new type of bullying that incorporates the use of electronic communication. With the frequent use of smartphones, apps, and computers it is easy to contact peers outside of school. These sources of technology can be used for good and evil. Cyberbullying is an example of this evil. At the beginning of my paper, I will define the term cyberbullying. Next, I will focus on how frequently cyberbullying occurs in society. I will then expand my paper to include different types of cyberbullying. Examples include nude photo sharing, lies and false accusations, false identity profiles (catfishing), encouraging self-harm or suicide, and jealous bullying. Then I will look into what warning signs parents and teachers should be aware of. These warning signs can point to a child being a victim of cyberbullying. Afterward I will explore the adverse effects that cyberbullying has on the victim. Then I will highlight the adverse consequences that the bully can experience when engaging in the act of cyberbullying. I intend to explore websites to gather information for my paper, such as StopBullying.gov. This is a website that was created by the United States government. The purpose of the website is to discuss the difference between traditional bullying and cyberbullying. Furthermore, it emphasizes prevention techniques that can be applied.