Bullying & Cyberbullying

What is Bullying?

Bullying is a widespread and serious problem that can happen anywhere. It is not a phase children have to go through; it is not “just messing around”. Bullying can cause serious and lasting harm. During the 82nd Legislature, Texas lawmakers passed HB 1942, which addresses and defines bullying in public schools.

Bullying occurs when a student or group of students engages in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic methods, or physical conduct against another student on school property, at a school-sponsored or -related activity, or in a district operated vehicle, and the behavior:

Results in harm to the student or the student’s property
Places a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or of damage to the student’s property, or
Is so severe, persistent, and pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment.

This conduct is considered bullying if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator(s) and the student victim and if it interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of the school.

What is Cyberbullying?

Instead of happening face-to-face, cyberbullying happens through the use of technology such as computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Cyberbullying peaks around the end of middle school and the beginning of high school.

Examples of cyberbullying include:

Sending hurtful, rude, or mean text messages to others
Spreading rumors or lies about others by e-mail or on social networks
Creating websites, videos or social media profiles that embarrass, humiliate, or make fun of others

Bullying online is very different from face-to-face bullying because messages and images can be:

Sent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Shared to a very wide audience
Sent anonymously
Effects of Cyberbullying
What Kids, Teens Young Adults Can Do
Make Cyberbullying Stop
What Parents Can Do
How You Can Help
What Schools Can Do

Who is at Risk for Being Bullied?

There is no one single cause of bullying. Rather, individual, family, peer, school, and community factors can place someone at risk for being bullied or for bullying others. Even if a child has one or more of the risk factors, it does not mean that they will bully or will become bullied.