20+ Differences between Bullying and Cyberbullying (Explained)

Mostly everyone knows what exactly bullying is. Most people have experienced this form of abuse, while others have experienced a person getting bullied. Nobody should ever have to experience Bullying, but the reality is unfortunate.

The growing use of the internet has given rise to another form of Bullying, i.e., Cyberbullying. The significant difference between Bullying and Cyberbullying is that the former is an umbrella term comprising various forms of Bullying, whereas the latter is a type of Bullying.

Table of Contents

Comparison Between Bullying And CyberBullying:

Parameter	Bullying	Cyberbullying
Meaning	It can be best described as an act of abuse done by a bully to a specific person to make it difficult for him to exist in the same environment. It should be noted that it is an umbrella term comprising many forms of Bullying. Still, we often use Bullying as a significant category referring to any form of Bullying.	It is one of the four significant forms of Bullying. It can be best described as an act of abuse done by a bully to a victim over the internet, making it difficult for the victim to continue using the internet and social media.
Types	It is a significant category of abuse wherein the bully exerts force over the victim because of his authority. It can further be categorized into Physical, Verbal, Social, and Cyber Bullying.	There are no types of this form of abuse, as it is a type of Bullying.
Place	This form of abuse usually takes place at a particular location. If the bully and the victim are not present at the same site, then the act of Bullying can not be pursued.	This form of abuse does not require the bully and the victim to be present at the same place. This type of abuse can occur even if the bully and the victim are separated by miles of distance. All the bully has to do is go to the victim’s social media or cyberspace to target him specifically.
Interaction and time	This form of abuse typically occurs when the bully and victim are present simultaneously and interacting with each other.	This form of abuse does not demand the bully and the victim to be present simultaneously and interact with each other. This form of abuse can still occur even when the victim is offline and not interacting with the bully.
Avoiding	Since this form of abuse requires the bully and the victim to be present simultaneously, this abuse is considered more avoidable than cyberbullying.	This form of abuse is almost impractical to avoid, as the internet motivates these people to be a bully and protects them. One can hide under the identity of a fake account, and one can make multiple fake accounts to bully people so that in case they get blocked, their Bullying does not.
Identification	One of the significant valuable features of this form of abuse is that the bully can be easily identified here. In most cases, the bully knows the victim directly or indirectly and usually lives near the victim. Along with that, the victim and other people clearly see the bully’s face and appearance. Hence, it becomes easier to identify the bully.	Identifying the bully in the cases of Cyberbullying is almost impossible. Here the bully can bully the victim from any part of the world, and usually, the bully does not personally know the victim. Also, most online bullies use fake accounts to bully people, so they can never be traced.
Action	Since, in this form of abuse, the bully can easily be identified. Thus it becomes easier to take some action against him.	Since it is already challenging to identify the bully in this form of abuse, it is equally difficult to take some action against him. Because if they would never get traced, how would anyone take any action against them?
Remorse	Since the bully can be held accountable for his actions in this form of abuse, the chances of him feeling remorse are more than in Cyberbullying. This is because he can be taken into counseling and therapies to overcome that behavior, and as the bully realizes his mistake, he will feel guilty. Although, it may not apply to some bullies.	In this form of abuse, the bully is never held accountable, nullifying his chances of getting into therapy and counseling. Furthermore, most of these online bullies are not bullies in real life, and people surrounding them would never know their true colors. Thus, they would go on bullying people without feeling guilty.
Effects	The effects of this form of abuse are severe without any doubt and highly impact the mind. Along with the psychological effects, some form of physical violence might also be included in many cases. Thus, usually, this form of violence is associated with not only psychological effects but also physical effects.	The effects of this form of abuse are more psychological than physical. Typically, there is the absence of any form of physical violence in this form of abuse. But it should be noted that this form of abuse is as severe as traditional Bullying.
Common	In comparison with Cyberbullying, this form of abuse is getting lowered. This is because the bully can easily be identified and punished in this form of abuse.	With the rapid growth of e-commerce platforms, the internet, and social media, there also has been a rapid growth in the incidents of Cyberbullying. People prefer it because they can hide their identity and never be traced or punished.

Major Differences Between Bullying And Cyberbullying

What exactly is Bullying?

Bullying can be best described as severe abuse where a person targets another person specifically to ensure his existence in the very place is very difficult and traumatic. The person who does the Bullying is referred to as the bully, whereas the person on whom the Bullying is done is referred to as the victim.

This form of Bullying occurs at a particular physical location and in real-time. This type of abuse is considered an umbrella term that can be further divided into Physical, Verbal, Social, and Cyber forms of Bullying.

Features of Bullying

It is a form of abuse that occurs when a person targets a specific person with aggressive acts to ensure his existence in the very place is difficult and traumatic.

The person who does the Bullying is referred to as a bully, whereas the person on whom the Bullying is done is referred to as the victim.

When talking in general, this form of abuse is also termed as traditional Bullying. Ig going by its literal meaning, is an umbrella term comprising various forms of Bullying.

This form of abuse can be further categorized into four categories: Physical, Verbal, Social, and Cyber.

The trademark feature of this form of abuse is that it happens when the bully and the victim are present with each other physically in real time. This form of abuse can not occur if the bully and victim are not at a particular site in real-time and not interacting.

Key Differences Bullying

It can be best described as a type of abuse where a person (bully) targets a specific person (victim) with abusive acts and exerts his authority over the victim to make his existence very difficult in the area. The trademark feature of this form of abuse is that it takes place in real time. The bully and victim are physically present with each other when this form of abuse occurs. It is also referred to as traditional Bullying.

Another unique feature of this form of abuse is that it occurs in a particular physical place. It may mean a specific area in school, offices, playground, etc.

Compared with Cyberbullying, this form of abuse is considered easier to avoid. A person can ensure he is not at a place at the same time as the bully. He can reach out to help certain authorities, parents, etc., to avoid the bully.

What exactly is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is one of the four forms of Bullying. This form of abuse is as severe and traumatic as traditional or other forms of Bullying. As the name suggests, this form of abuse takes place in cyberspace.

The rapid growth of the internet and social media platforms has increased incidents of Cyberbullying. People engaging in social media platforms often find themselves victims of Cyberbullying. Here the bully explicitly targets a particular person over the internet to make it difficult for him to use it.

Features of Cyberbullying

It is a form of Bullying that is equally as severe as other forms of Bullying. It can be best described as a form of abuse in cyber places such as various social media platforms.

Under this form of abuse, the bully keeps targeting a particular person online with abusive acts, making it difficult for him to continue using the internet.

The trademark feature of this form of abuse is that this form of abuse does not require the bully to be physically present at a physical place at the same time as the victim. The bully can target the victim from any part of the world.

Another unique feature of this form of abuse is that it does not require the bully and the victim to interact. The bully can harass the victim even if the victim is not active on the internet.

Key Differences Cyberbullying

It can be best described as a type of Bullying that typically occurs on the internet or online. With the accelerated growth of the internet and social media networks, there also has been a rapid growth of incidents of Cyberbullying. The characteristics of this form of abuse are the same as traditional Bullying, but the only difference is that it takes place online.

The hallmark feature of this form of abuse that acts as a significant distinction between this form of abuse and Bullying is that it does not take place in real-time. The bully and the victim need not be present at the same time. It can take place anytime, regardless of whether the bully or the victim is present simultaneously to interact with each other.

Another classic feature of this abuse form is that it does not occur in a particular physical place. It can happen at any home over the internet. A person could be bullied at any or every spot on social media.

Compared with Bullying, this form of abuse is difficult to avoid. This is because a person could target a person on social media, and if the victim blocks them, they can always make fake accounts to keep targeting him. They can also include their friends to target a particular person specifically.

The Contrast Between Bullying And Cyberbullying

Meaning

Bullying: is a type of abuse where a bully mainly targets a specific person in real-time to ensure his existence in the very place is difficult and traumatic. Bullying can be considered a general term used when any form of Bullying occurs.

However, since the rapid growth of Cyberbullying, this generic form of Bullying is also referred to as Traditional Bullying.

Cyberbullying: is also a type of abuse or bullying that occurs online or in cyberspaces, as suggestive of the name.

In this type of abuse, the bully explicitly targets a particular person over the internet, making it difficult for him to continue using it. It should be noted that this form of abuse is as severe as other forms of Bullying.

Types

Bullying: This form of abuse can take various forms. The term Bullying is considered an umbrella term that comprises several states this abuse can take, such as Verbal Bullying, Social Bullying, Physical Bullying, and Cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying: There are no types of this form of abuse, as it is a type of Bullying.

Types of Bullying (other than Cyberbullying)

Physical Bullying: This type of Bullying is concerned with hurting a person physically.

Verbal Bullying: This type of Bullying only deals with verbal means of abuse. It may include name-calling, teasing, blackmailing, racist comments, homophobic remarks, etc.

Social Bullying: This type of Bullying deals with attacking someone’s social image or reputation. This may include contributing to rumors, humiliating someone, mimicking someone intentionally rudely, etc.

Place

Bullying – One of the significant features of this form of abuse that acts as one of the substantial distinctions between this and Cyberbullying is that it always takes place at a particular physical location and in real-time.

Both parties must be in a specific site to ensure the bully bullies the victim. For example, the bully may bully the victim only when the victim is in the cafeteria of a school or office, or playground.

Cyberbullying – This form of abuse does not require the bully and victim to be present at the same physical place and at the same time. The bully can be anywhere in the world and still bully the victim.

Along with that, this form of abuse does not require both parties to be physically present at a specific place. For example, a person in England could bully someone living in the US by writing hateful comments on his social media page. This can not be possible in the case of Bullying.

Interaction and time

Bullying – This form of abuse demands the interaction between the bully and the victim. Both parties must interact with each other at the same time. Here interaction could mean the victim trying to save himself from the bully or himself getting verbal with the bully. The bully and the victim must be present simultaneously, or else the Bullying will not occur.

Cyberbullying – Unlike Bullying, this form of abuse does not require the bully and the victim to interact with each other in real time.

The bully can still bully the victim even when the victim has blocked him on the internet and is unavailable in real-time. Here, the bully can post hate comments on the victim’s social media page, make fake accounts to keep up the abuse even after getting blocked, etc.

Avoiding

Bullying – Compared to cyberbullying, this form of abuse is considered avoidable. Since this form of abuse demands the bully and the victim to be in a physical place simultaneously, one can try staying away from the bully.

Although in many cases, it might not work, especially if the bully is stubborn and violent, at the same time, it can be avoided, especially after contacting the concerned authorities and parents.

Cyberbullying – Compared to general Bullying, this form of abuse is considered entirely unavoidable. As the person need not have to be physically present at the same time as the victim, the bully can keep on targeting the victim no matter how much the victim has tried to avoid him. A person could establish multiple fake accounts to keep the abuse and his identity private.

Identification

Bullying – It is easier to identify the bully in the case of traditional Bullying, as usually the bully and the victim know each other, like the bully can be a classmate or schoolmate or officemate or neighbor or a friend of a friend. Hence, it becomes easier to identify a bully as the search area is narrower than Cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying – It is challenging to identify the bully in the case of Cyberbullying. This is because anyone from the world can be a bully here. He might or might not even know the victim. Most importantly, he can hide his real identity behind a fake account.

Some people intentionally use fake accounts on social media to spread hate or act as a bully so that their real identity can not be tracked. Thus, it is considered pretty challenging to identify the bully in the case of Cyberbullying.

Action

Bullying – Since it is easier to identify the bully in this form of abuse, it is also considered easier to take action against the bully. For example, if the bully is a school-going person, the concerned authorities can suspend him.

If the bully is a neighbor, his parents can be contacted, and if the bully is an office colleague, the harassment cell can be reached. In short, it is easier to take action or punish the bully in the case of Bullying.

Cyberbullying – In the case of Cyberbullying, it is already difficult to identify the bully, let alone take some action against the bully.

If the bully can not even be recognized, how would anyone take action against him? Moreover, the bully can belong to any country in the world and hide behind a fake account, making tracking him almost impossible.

Effects

Bullying – The Effects of Bullying on a person’s life and mind are severe. But one of the significant effects that can happen in Bullying, but not in the case of Cyberbullying, is physical abuse.

In many instances of Bullying, some form of physical violence is also included. Also, a person can always remain scared, thinking, what if the bully physically attacks him? This scenario is generally absent in the case of Cyberbullying. The effects of Bullying are psychological and physical (in various issues).

Cyberbullying – The effects of cyberbullying on a person’s life and mind are equally as horrendous as that of Bullying. However, unlike Bullying, there is usually no physical violence unless the bully comes up front and becomes violent to the victim.

The effects associated with Cyberbullying are more psychological rather than physical. The victim can always see what the bully says on his social media.

Remorse

Bullying – Since the bully can be identified and face punishment, the chances of feeling remorse or guilt on the bully’s part are more in the case of Bullying than in Cyberbullying.

This is because when the authorities and families can establish some challenges for the concerned bully, they can contact therapists and psychologists to help the bully fix his behavior. However, it might not be the case for everyone, but it is highly possible that the bully would end up feeling guilty and not repeat his actions with adequate help.

Cyberbullying – In this form of abuse, in most cases, the bullies can not be identified and are not held accountable for their actions. Their families or people living around them do not know they can be bullied as it is not apparent that the cyberbully would be a bully in real life.

When they are not even held accountable for their actions and never get any help from therapists and psychologists, they do not realize how wrong they are. Hence, they often have no remorse and do not feel guilty for their actions.

Common

Bullying – This form of abuse is becoming less common than cyberbullying. This is because, in this form of abuse, the bully can be easily identified and can be punished. Due to this reason, most of the bully find it easier to bully people over the internet.

Cyberbullying – The rapid growth of the internet has led to the rapid growth of Cyberbullying. Nowadays, people find it easier to bully people over the internet; in this case, the bully can hide their identity and never be punished.

Examples

Bullying – Examples of this form of abuse include punching someone without any reason, beating someone, calling someone names, making fun of someone in front of everyone, threatening in person about killing or raping them, hurting someone’s property and goods, spreading fake things about someone, passing out insensitive remarks such as being racist and homophobic, excluding someone from the group on purpose, etc.

Cyberbullying – Examples of this form of abuse include posting hate comments over someone’s social media page, giving death or rape threats in someone’s inbox on the internet or social media, sending violent emails, posting rumors about someone online, posting embarrassing pictures of someone intentionally knowing the other person is not okay with it, making a fake account of someone to harass him, blackmailing someone over text, threatening to leak someone’s private pictures, etc.

Examples of Bullying and Cyberbullying

Bullying

Punching, thrashing, being physically violent with someone.
Damaging one’s property and goods.
Passing out insensitive comments over someone, such as racist and homophobic comments.
Spreading rumors about someone.
Threatening to kill someone in person.
Excluding someone from the group on purpose.
Name-calling.
Embarrassing someone again and again.
Harassing someone.
Verbal abuse.

Cyberbullying

Posting hate comments over someone’s social media page.
Sending threatening messages through email.
Blackmailing someone over texts.
Giving death and rape threats on internet inbox.
Threatening to leak the private pictures of someone.
Making a fake account of someone over social media.
Posting someone’s embarrassing pictures online despite knowing the concerned person is not okay with it.
Making fun of someone repeatedly on group chats.
Posting sexual comments over someone’s photos.
Posting fake stories and rumors about someone on the internet.

Conclusion

Bullying and Cyberbullying are known to create confusion in people’s minds. Both forms of abuse are often understood as synonyms and are used interchangeably.

The significant difference between Bullying and Cyberbullying is that the former is an umbrella term representing a person’s abuse of the victim. In contrast, the latter is a type of Bullying that happens in cyberspaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are the different types of Bullying?

Bullying can take the form of any of its subtypes: Physical Bullying, Verbal Bullying, Social Bullying, and Cyberbullying.

Q2. Why is it difficult to take action against the bully in the case of Cyberbullying?

It is difficult to take action against the bully in the case of Cyberbullying because it is harder to identify the bully in the first place. Most victims do not know the bully personally, and they can always bully, hiding behind a fake account.

Q3. What are the factors that make traditional Bullying possible?

This form of abuse typically requires the bully and the victim to simultaneously be present at a particular place and interact with each other. Therefore, it can not occur if the bully and the victim are not present somewhere simultaneously.

Q4. What is the significant difference between Bullying and Cyberbullying?

The significant difference between Bullying and Cyberbullying is that the former deals with real-life abuse, whereas the latter deals with abuse over the internet.

Q5. What are some examples of Cyberbullying?

Posting hate comments, leaking or threatening to leak private pictures, making fake accounts, spamming one’s social media with hate comments, making fun on group chats, creating rumors, sending death threats or rape threats through email or text, etc.