Behind the Screen: Cyberbullying as a Cybersecurity Threat

Behind the Screen: Cyberbullying as a Cybersecurity Threat

by Dr. Windhya Rankothge

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Computing & Cybersecurity UDDigital Lifestyle and online world: consumer and user guidesUDDOnline safety and behaviour
🎙 Dr. Windhya Rankothge 👥 1K 📅 December 5, 2025 ⏱ 48 min 👁 57 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

cyberbullyingcybersecurityonline harassmentdigital citizenshipmental health

Summary

Dr. Windhya Rankothge, a research associate at the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, presents a webinar on cyberbullying as a cybersecurity threat. She begins by highlighting the prevalence of internet and social media use, noting that over half the global population is online. She defines cyberbullying as the use of digital platforms to harm others, distinguishing it from traditional bullying by its 24/7 nature, anonymity, and difficulty to escape. She outlines key characteristics, platforms (social media, messaging apps, gaming), and forms (rumors, embarrassing photos, threats, exclusion). She provides statistics (36.5% lifetime prevalence, 60% of teens) and discusses psychological impacts on youth and adults, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. She emphasizes that cyberbullying is often overlooked due to dismissal as ‘just online’ and victim silence. She differentiates cyberbullying from conflict, and offers guidance for victims (block, report, save evidence, seek support), bystanders (speak up, support privately, report), parents (monitor, communicate, teach digital safety), and schools/workplaces (anti-bullying programs, policies). She covers legal aspects in Canada (Criminal Code, Bill C-13) and resources like CyberTip.ca and helplines. She concludes by urging kindness, thinking before posting, and being an ally to foster a respectful digital community.

191 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation provides a comprehensive overview of cyberbullying, covering definitions, forms, impacts, and practical responses. It effectively argues that cyberbullying is a significant human-centric cybersecurity threat often overlooked in favor of technical aspects. The argumentation is clear and logically structured, using statistics and examples to illustrate points. However, the evidence is largely anecdotal or general, and specific sources for statistics are not cited. The presentation is more informative than analytical, but it successfully raises awareness and offers actionable advice.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The speaker is a cybersecurity researcher with a PhD, lending credibility. However, the presentation does not cite specific academic studies or reports for its statistics, relying on general knowledge. The description provides links to the institute’s blog and website, but these are not directly referenced in the talk. The title accurately reflects the content, framing cyberbullying as a cybersecurity issue. The presentation is well-structured and practical, but lacks rigorous sourcing. No comments were provided for analysis.

170 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, framing cyberbullying as a human-centric cybersecurity threat.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

Presentation by a cybersecurity researcher with relevant academic background, but relies on general statistics and anecdotal examples rather than citing specific peer-reviewed studies. The content is well-structured and practical, but lacks in-depth technical or empirical rigor.

Chapters

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

  • Cyberbullying Research Center — Provides statistics and research on cyberbullying prevalence and impacts.
  • StopBullying.gov — U.S. government resource with definitions, prevention strategies, and data.

External References

Contribution & Novelties

The presentation adds value by framing cyberbullying as a cybersecurity threat, emphasizing the human element often neglected in technical cybersecurity discussions. It provides a practical guide for various stakeholders (victims, bystanders, parents, schools) and highlights Canadian legal and reporting resources. While not groundbreaking, it consolidates information in an accessible format.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Cyberbullying Research Center — A leading resource for cyberbullying research and statistics.
  • StopBullying.gov — U.S. government site with comprehensive information on bullying and cyberbullying.
  • Public Safety Canada - Cyberbullying — Canadian government resource on cyberbullying, mentioned in the presentation.
  • Bill C-13 (Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act) — Canadian legislation referenced in the talk.

109 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows moderate scores across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in information quantity and quality, and lower in technical level. This reflects a presentation that is informative and reliable but not highly technical, suitable for a general audience.

Reliability 7/10