JEDDAH – Many parents today are worried that their children might fall victim to cyberbullies. Dictionaries define cyberbullying as the use of information technology to harm or harass other people in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. According to US legal definitions, cyberbullying could be as simple to posting rumors or gossip about a person on the Internet or it may go to the extent of personally identifying victims and publishing material severely defaming and humiliating them. This gives technology a double edge and increases fears about whether children know how to use technology properly. If cyberbullying is considered to be a phenomenon, the solution, as seen by citizen Luay Mufti, is to ensure parents are raising children properly on the basis of Islamic principles. Ahmed Ismail, another Saudi parent, said: “We must regulate the use of technology of all kinds. “Also, there should be supervision, monitoring and guidance by parents.” Saeed Saqr, a citizen, said parents must watch their children and monitor their Internet usage. “At the same time they should be guided on how to deal with people who use technology to harm or harass others instead of using it in educating themselves and serve society.” Ahmed Ismail, another citizen, believed technology is not sufficiently safe even though there are cybercrime laws. He said the ideal solution was to enlighten children on the danger of such crimes and creating awareness among them. “Also, the use of technology and modern means of communication should be regulated,” he said. Mufti said many parents have fears about the danger technology poses to their children. He said: “For me, I'm always careful to watch my children and monitor the programs they are using as well as enlightening them on the main problems they might face while using the Internet, including cyberbullying. “Cybercrimes have spread to the extent that there are now laws and penalties in place to tackle them.” Mufti added that raising children according to the principles of Islam would help foster good manners in them and prevent them from resorting to hostile conduct that harms society. Professor of sociology at Umm Al-Qura University Mahmood Kasnawi said a major societal change involves the spread of modern technology means. He said: “This technological revolution has the advantages of offering speedy access to information and easy social networking at a global level. “However, there are also disadvantages such as the fact it can encourage cyberbullying, which advanced societies are striving to combat through proper upbringing of its children.” Psychologist Nawal Al-Zahrani said cyberbullies tend to demonstrate anti-social behavior. “Cyberbullying is not due to the excessive use of technology, as some people think, but it is due to the disturbed or aggressive personalities of the cyberbullies. “The personalities of these people manifest in their dealing with others, especially within virtual domains.”
