Bullying is one of the topics frequently spoken about as a problem at schools. With a number of children electing to take their own lives instead of facing daily harassment, a number of states across the country have taken a stand with anti-bullying legislation. One of the forms covered in this legislation is online communications that harm or harass others. Even if you don't have reports of your child physically harming other people, they may be brought up on criminal charges of cyberbullying depending on what they post on the internet.

Is my child cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying occurs any time that someone uses the internet in order to harass, control, intimidate, or cause harm to another person. Oftentimes, cyberbullying is a silent form of bullying, as it can be hard to monitor and usually does not manifest physically. Students are electing to use forms of social media and text messaging to act out against their schoolmates.

There are a number of actions that may count as cyberbullying:

• Using a different identity in order to trick others, also known as catfishing
• Spreading lies and rumors
• Tricking someone into revealing personal information
• Sending mean, threatening, or hateful text messages to another
• Posting photos of someone that may cause harm without their consent

There are two main types of cyberbullying: cyberstalking and cyber-harassment. Cyberstalking is when the internet and related communications are used to stalk someone else, generally with a level of malicious intent. Cyber-harassment does not have to be an immediate threat, but can involve threatening or harassing online communications with the intention of tormenting the person it is aimed towards.

Oftentimes, punishment for cyberbullying is in the hands of a child's school, but they can be brought up on civil charges should the bullied child decide to sue. Further, cyberbullying can be used in combination with existing crimes in order to bring criminal charges against a student.

If you are worried about whether or not your child may be cyberbullying another, it is first best to examine their online communications for any indication. If so, it may be time to get a criminal defense lawyer. There are a number of ways your child may be brought up on criminal charges. Don't wait until it's too late!