What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is like any other type of bullying except that it is done virtually or online through text messages, emails and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.
Cyberbullying could be as simple as sending invectives or threatening somebody through text messages, cursing or calling somebody names in facebook posts to disseminating sex video or those meant to depict a person as evil, bad, wrong doer, corrupt that defames and destroy one’s reputation.
The effect to the victims of cyberbullying is much more devastating than in ordinary bullying because of the far reaching extent of internet. The web knows no borders and boundaries and can practically be seen by the whole world with just one click of the finger.
In this jurisprudence, the Cybercrime Prevention Act is the closest law that addresses issues on cyberbullying and punishes online libel. Online or E-Libel, as defined under this law, is the unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.
And Libel as defined under Article 353 of the said law is a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice, or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.
Given this provision in law, cyberbullying is now a punishable act and a grave offense punishable by one degree higher than that penalty provided under the Revised Penal Code.
