Cyberbullying is bullying – unwanted, repeated, aggressive, negative behavior – that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers. Cyberbullying can happen over email, through texting, on social media, while gaming, on instant messaging, and through photo sharing. 

Cyberbullying. (n.d.). Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which includes, but is not limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person, or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. 

Florida Department of Education. (n.d.). Florida’s bullying and harassment laws. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.fldoe.org /contact-us/search.stml?q=cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying is defined as posting a message or statement in a public media forum about another person with the intent to place them in fear of bodily harm or death, expressing an intent to commit violence, and with the knowledge that it will be viewed as a threat. 

MCL – Section 750.411x. (n.d.). Michigan Legislature. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-750-411X  

The statute defines “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” as intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical acts exhibited toward another student more than once, which cause mental or physical harm and create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment. 

Section 3313.666 District policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying required.  

(n.d.). Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3313.666 

Bullying means a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, or physical conduct that satisfies the applicability requirements provided by Subsection (a 1), [that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district] and that: (1) has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property, (2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or [and] pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; (iii) substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or school; and (iv) infringes on the rights of the victim and includes cyberbullying. (2) “Cyberbullying” means bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool. 

Texas bullying laws – David’s Law. (n.d.). Texas School Safety Center. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://txssc.txstate.edu/videos/bullying-and-the-law

Pennsylvania General Assembly’s legislation, 2015 Act 26 defines cyber harassment as the use of electronic communications to intentionally harass, annoy, or alarm a child by: 

• Making seriously disparaging statements or opinions about the child’s physical characteristics, sexuality, sexual activity, or mental or physical health; or 

• Threatening to inflict harm. 

 2015 act 26. (n.d.). Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2015&sessInd=0&act=26 

Cyberbullying refers to any threats by one student toward another typically through e mails or on Web sites (e.g., blogs, social networking sites). Electronic communication that supports deliberate, hostile, hurtful messages intended to harm others is a form of bullying. Cyberbullying includes such things as sending mean, vulgar or threatening messages or images; posting sensitive, private information about another person; pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad; and defamatory online personal polling Web sites. 

Model policy to address bullying in Virginia’s Public Schools. (2013, October). Virginia  

Department of Education. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32839/638047296825300000  

Online harassment and cyber bullying can take a wide variety of forms including: “trolling” (sending menacing or upsetting messages), identity theft, “doxxing” (making available personal information), cyber stalking. 

Online harassment and cyber bullying. (n.d.). House of Commons Library. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7967