Cyberbullying: Legal and Ethical Implications, Challenges and Opportunities for Policy Development

Abstract

Cyberbullying has grown to be a serious social problem that needs to be addressed. The increased frequency of cyberbullying has had a major negative influence on students’ psychological well-being and social relationships. Because of the nature of cyberbullying and the difficulties in identifying criminals owing to the anonymity surrounding the internet and online space, the legal system is still quite restricted. However, via a variety of disciplinary measures, schools play a crucial role in reducing the impacts of cyberbullying. The research examines the legal and ethical implications of cyberbullying, alongside the opportunities and challenges entailed in the development of new policies. . The research reveals that the anonymity of cyberbullying creates jurisdictional issues and invasion of privacy, making it challenging to offer victims with sufficient protection. Policy creation against cyberbullying brings a variety of opportunities such as technological innovation in the form of digital citizenship, increased awareness and prevention programs. Cyberbullying has serious ethical and legal implications, but it also necessitates awareness campaigns to lessen its effects. Therefore, in order to build a secure online environment, government entities, educational institutions, and other stakeholders must work together to ensure a safe online environment.