1.7.2 The causes of cyberbullying

Excessive Internet use, access to the Internet without adult supervision and the use of violent video games can be considered as some of the causes cyberbullying.

The target is usually someone who uses the web more frequently than his/her peers and is therefore more likely to be targeted by cyber CYPs engaged in bullying. 

A first precaution can certainly be to use the PC in a central part of the house where parents can supervise web surfing. Children's lack of awareness of the dissemination of images, videos and personal information is also a dangerous component that should not be underestimated: they often share their information too superficially, making it accessible and available to everyone. 

Finally, the use of violent video games tends to reinforce in the cyber CYP engaged in bullying behaviour the idea that insults and threats on the Web can only be considered as a game and not as real virtual violence. 

The families of CYPs engaged in bullying and cyber CYPs engaged in bullying are often environments characterised by a hostile aggressive climate, where there is little acceptance of their children or where excessively authoritarian and violent educational models are in force. In some cases, parents are inordinately permissive or exaggeratedly disregardful of their children's educational needs. This can lead some of them to adopt prevaricating attitudes and behaviour, which can also have serious effects on others. 

In some circumstances, moreover, the inconsistency between actions and educational behaviour can lead to the development of particularly aggressive behaviour in children or young people, because they are unable to anticipate their parents' reactions and recognise those of others: certain attitudes or words that are presented as innocent are interpreted by them as offensive or violent and therefore deserving of punishment. This would explain their strong hostility towards others and their unjustified attacks of violence against peers and adults. 

It is important to point out that the family of a CYP engaged in bullying behaviour or cyber CYP engaged in bullying behaviour is also a family that experiences difficulties. In general, when young people are so aggressive and opposed to social norms, it is because even within their family reality, there are problems where there are no defined rules and often young people not only experience a condition of extreme neglect, autonomy, and self-sufficiency without care, but also find themselves living in an environment without distinct and defined rules.