Defined as the use of ICT deliberately to upset someone, cyberbullying can be done via a number of channels, including:
- Text message - you might receive nasty or threatening texts
- Mobile phone call - someone might call you persistently and anonymously
- Photo / video message - your students might take photos or film footage of you in class and text or email them to other people
- Email - someone might send malicious emails from a supposedly anonymous email address
- Instant message (IM) - someone might steal your Instant Message ID and send threatening messages
- Chat room - a fellow chat room user might start saying rude things about you
- Website (eg social networking profile, video-sharing site or blog) - your students could film you without your knowledge and post the video clip online or they could set up a "fake” social networking profile that claims to be you
- Video games - a fellow gamer might try to block you from a game
As the above shows, cyberbullying can involve:
- Threats or intimidation
- Harassment or "cyberstalking”
- Defamation
- Impersonation
- Exclusion
- Identity theft
- Unauthorised publication of private information or images
The Department for Education Cyberbullying Guidance includes a useful table that explores the way different technologies can be used to bully .