Cyberbullying: An Emerging Psychological Cybersecurity Issue?

Abstract

Cyberbullying is becoming a prevalent issue in the digital world today. The pressure on adolescents to endure online harassment which often occurs from masked bullies is stringently oppressing. There is also a lack of research regarding this topic and a gruesome debate as to considering it among relevant cybersecurity issues. This paper, via a qualitative approach based on a critical literature review and secondary data, assessed whether cyberbullying is an emerging psychological cybersecurity issue. The end goal is the proposal of innovative cybersecurity solutions that can help in mediating cyberbullying. Findings revealed that digital device prevalence is a major propeller of a pressing health challenge among youngsters globally regardless of their educational level. Moreover, it was deduced that cyberbullying is strongly linked with the psychological aspect of cybersecurity, an evolving area of the human aspects of cybersecurity. Cyberbullying includes threatening, embarrassing, harassing or demeaning an individual via an online platform. In extreme situations, statistics have revealed that the majority of cyberbullied victims are at high risk of committing suicide. Thus, cybersecurity strategists need to include policies that combat cyberbullying as well as add it to the list of major cyberthreats. One of the best solutions to mediate cyberbullying is to develop a system that blocks cyberbullying perpetrators and ensures a safe system especially for younger online users to report such issues to higher authorities. Also, training on cyberbullying is essential to create awareness of this menace among online users. Conclusively, if the issue of cyberbullying is handled in a judiciously technological manner, the internet could be a bit safer for all categories of users.