Social Media / Cyberbullying Terms

Blog - a personal journal published on the World Wide Web that includes sharing text, photos, and video.

Bullycide - suicide attributed to the victim having been bullied in person, electronically, or through social media.

Cyberbullying - using the Internet, cell phones, or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.

Cyberstalking or cyberharassment - using the Internet or other electronic means to harass an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. It may include false accusations, monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or gathering information in order to harass. Harassment refers to situation in which a reasonable person, in possession of the same information, would regard it as sufficient to cause another reasonable person distress.

Digital natives - persons born after the Digital Age began (late 1960's) and, because they have used digital technology from an early age, have a better understanding of its use.

Digital tourists - persons who are not familiar with digital technology.

Digital or Internet security - protection of a computer's Internet account and files from intrusion by an outside user.

Electronic aggression - a type of harassment or bullying that occurs through e-mail, a chat room, instant messaging, a website, or text messaging.

Flaming or trolling - sending or posting hostile messages intended to "inflame" the emotions of others.

Going viral - Internet content that is rapidly spread through electronic mail and social networking sites because most people who get it share it with their friends or social networks.

Hacking - breaking into computers or networks.

Happy slapping - recording someone being harassed or bullied in a way that usually involves physical abuse: then posting the video online for public viewing.

Identity theft - stealing another's identity and posing as that person.

Impersonation - stealing someone's password or hijacking their online account to send or post incriminating or humiliating pictures, videos, or information.

Instant messaging (IM) - a form of real-time communication online using typed text.

Phishing - term used to describe a malicious individual or group of individuals scamming users by sending e-mails or creating webpages that are designed to collect an individual's online bank, credit card, or other login information.

Photoshopping - doctoring digital images so that the main subject is placed in a compromising or embarrassing situation online for public viewing.

Physical threat - sending messages that involve threats to a person' physical safety.

Rumor spreading - spreading gossip through e-mail, text messaging, or social networks.

Sexting - sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile or cell phones.

Social networking - an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building social networks or relations among people such as Facebook

Spoofing - hoax in which the e-mail header or sender address are changed to appear as though the e-mail is from a different source.

Text message or texting - communicating through brief written text messages between two mobile phones or fixed or portable devices over a network.

Trojan horse - computer virus or harmful code is "hiding" as a seemingly harmless computer program.

Check out computerhope.com for further information and definitions.