CYBERVIOLENCE AS A SOCIAL REALITY

Abstract

This study is devoted to a general analysis of the socio-philosophical, psychological, and moral dimensions of cyberviolence and cyberbullying in the context of a digital society. The rapid development of information and communication technologies has brought almost all spheres of human activity closer to the digital environment and has generated new forms of social relations. While this process has significantly expanded opportunities for communication and information exchange, it has also created new virtual forms of violence. For this reason, cyberviolence and cyberbullying have become important components of contemporary social reality and represent a highly relevant area of scientific inquiry. Theoretical analysis shows that cyberviolence should be understood as a broad concept encompassing all forms of aggressive, threatening, and harmful actions carried out in digital space. Cyberbullying, in turn, appears as a more specific, structured, and repetitive form of cyberviolence. Its defining characteristics include intentionality, regular repetition, and the infliction of serious psychological or social harm. Therefore, interpreting cyberbullying as a structured subtype of cyberviolence is methodologically justified. The study examines the causes and mechanisms of cyberbullying and identifies the specific features of virtual space that contribute to its spread. Among the most significant factors are anonymity, weak social control, the high speed of communication, and the broad scope of the audience. In virtual space, individuals may reconstruct their identity, which can reduce their sense of social responsibility.