Cyberbullying is the willful and repeated use of cell phones, computers, and other electronic communication devices to harass and threaten others. Instant messaging, chat rooms, e-mails, and messages posted on websites are the most common methods of this new twist of bullying. It is challenging to characterize cyberbullying in legislation however, language has included electronic communication, cyberbullying, and electronic and internet intimidation.

Cyberbullying can involve:

• Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images

• Posting sensitive, private information and/or lies about another person
• Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad
• Intentionally excluding someone from an online group (Willard, 2005)

Children and youth can cyberbully each other through:

• Emails
• Instant messaging
• Text or digital imaging messages sent on cell phones
• Social networking sites
• Web pages
• Blogs
• Chat rooms or discussion groups
• Other cyber technologies

Bullying via instant messaging appears to be particularly prevalent.