An Investigative Model of Adult Cyberbullying: A Court Case Analysis

Cyberbullying is a major social issue that is on the rise with a substantial potential to impact a large number of Internet users globally. The growth and rapid proliferation of the Internet and other ubiquitous technologies like social media and smart mobile devices have increased the propensity of cyberbullying, providing it with a wider audience and rapid access. This research developed an investigative model for cyberbullying, specifically developed for adults. Therein, the model considers the cyberbullying journey from conception of the bullying idea, identification of the target to the bullying as an action. The a-priori model is motivated by the General Theory of Crime and the Routine Activity Theory. The a-priori model is then validated using 20 cyberbullying court cases from Australia, Canada, the United States and Scotland.