Cyberbullying Injury Claims
Washington, D.C. attorneys here to help victims of cyberbullying
There are many ways preteens, teenagers, and young adults can suffer harm from social media use. Young people can experience mental health issues caused by self-harm, addiction, and online harassment. Cyberbullying is particularly invasive because it follows adolescents wherever they go, making it seemingly impossible to escape.
Fortunately, parents can take steps to stop this type of harassment. Our cyberbullying injury claims attorneys know the devastating impact social media can have on youth. We have helped many clients after they suffered harm due to negligent corporate practices. We will bring that same dedication to your child’s social media case.
How can we help?
- Why choose Nace Law Group?
- How does cyberbullying cause emotional and psychological harm?
- How does cyberbullying damage a reputation and cause permanent digital harm?
- Who does cyberbullying mainly affect?
- Is online impersonation considered cyberbullying?
- Filing a cyberbullying wrongful death lawsuit
- How do negligent social media platforms contribute to cyberbullying?
- Emotional distress damages available for cyberbullying
- FAQs
- How to find a cyberbullying injury attorney near me
- Call our cyberbullying injury lawyers in Washington, D.C. today
Why choose Nace Law Group?
Adolescents spend a great deal of time online today, but they are also vulnerable to the threats lurking on these websites and apps. Our cyberbullying injury lawyers provide compassionate advice to victims and their families. As advocates for child safety and accountability, we can discuss your legal options.
Our team of skilled attorneys has seen the catastrophic harm caused by online bullying, and we recognize that the consequences are life-changing. We also know that taking on big tech companies is extremely complex, and that these cases must often be resolved at trial. We have the necessary experience to overcome the complexities associated with trial litigation to take your case to the courtroom and pursue the justice your family deserves.
When your child has been harmed by social media, you need more than legal advice. You need someone you can trust who will be with you every step of the way. You need the experience of Nace Law Group.
How does cyberbullying cause emotional and psychological harm?
Cyberbullying can cause severe emotional and psychological harm. The impacts often include:
- Anxiety and depression: The ever-present nature of cyberbullying can fuel constant worry in young people. When harassment is particularly invasive, victims can experience persistent hopelessness, sadness, and loss of interest in daily activities and things they once enjoyed.
- Lack of self-esteem: Offensive messages and public ridicule can quickly erode a young person’s self-worth and confidence.
- Avoidance: Adolescents often believe avoiding the situation is easier than enduring it. They may withdraw from social interactions and miss out on valuable friendships. They may also start missing school to avoid their bullies, causing their grades to slip.
- Suicidal thoughts: Victims may feel that the harassment is so constant, it is impossible to escape it. This can lead to suicidal thoughts.
- Physical symptoms: The emotional distress of cyberbullying can result in physical symptoms, as well. These include headaches, nausea, sleep disturbances, and chronic stress.
Cyberbullying is not like traditional bullying, in which a victim finds relief once they leave school grounds or are no longer in the presence of their bully. Instead, cyberbullying can feel inescapable as it makes its way into the safety of the home and can reach a much larger audience. If harassing online posts go viral, victims can also feel extreme shame and embarrassment.
Still, there is a connection between cyberbullying and traditional bullying at school. Research shows that between 40 and 60 percent of victims are bullied online as well as face-to-face. They are not separate scenarios; rather, schoolyard bullies often use social media to continue harassing their victims once the school day is over.
How does cyberbullying damage a reputation and cause permanent digital harm?
The internet has a permanent nature, meaning cyberbullying can cause long-lasting damage to a person’s reputation. Once false rumors, photoshopped media, or offensive content is posted online, it is extremely difficult to delete. This can possibly impact career prospects, admission to colleges or universities, and personal relationships even years after the original harassment has stopped.
Who does cyberbullying mainly affect?
Although any young person can become the victim of cyberbullying, there are some demographics that are affected by it more than others. Older teenage girls also report some of the highest rates of cyberbullying. Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community are also more susceptible to online bullying than other youth in their age group.
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 50 percent of teens in America report having experienced some type of targeted online harassment. This statistic shows that cyberbullying may be much more prevalent than many parents think.
Is online impersonation considered cyberbullying?
Online impersonation involves creating fake accounts in someone else’s name, while doxxing involves publishing another person’s private information online. In some cases, bullies may also rally other individuals to fill a person’s social media accounts with offensive content. These can be severe types of cyberbullying and can have the most dire consequences.
Megan Meier was one of the first and most tragic examples of the negative impacts of online impersonation. Megan was 13 years old in 2006 when her neighbor created a fake MySpace profile to torment her. After she took her own life, it sparked national outrage and conversations about fraudulent profiles online.
Filing a cyberbullying wrongful death lawsuit
Research has shown a very strong link between cyberbullying and youth suicide. Studies show that when young adolescents experience online bullying, they are much more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and plan suicide attempts at higher rates than their peers. Tragically, while Megan Meier’s story was one of the first to make news, several others followed.
Tyler Clementi was 18 years old when his roommate used a webcam to spy on his intimate encounter with another man and encouraged others on social media to watch another encounter in 2010; Clementi died by suicide shortly afterward. Rebecca Sedwick was just 12 years old when she died by suicide in 2013 after persistent online bullying from her classmates. A 14-year-old girl, Adriana Kuch, also sadly died by suicide just two days after a video of her being physically attacked by bullies was posted and shared online in 2023.
Unfortunately, these catastrophic cases are just some of the most highly publicized stories. If you have experienced this type of tragedy, it is critical that you speak to an online bullying wrongful death attorney.
How do negligent social media platforms contribute to cyberbullying?
There are many ways social media platforms contribute to cyberbullying. These include:
- Addictive features and extended reach: Social media websites and apps use features such as autoplay and infinite scroll to drive engagement. The algorithms they use also boost negative content such as public shaming, outrage, and gossip, providing bullies with a larger audience.
- Anonymity: When users are only looking at a screen, it is easier for them to say hurtful things they would never say in person. Features that encourage anonymity, such as disappearing messages on Snapchat, also embolden harassers by removing the fear of retaliation.
- Ineffective or slow moderation: Platforms may fail to properly govern content on their site, resulting in response systems that are weak and slow. When reports of bullying take too long to review or reporting systems are difficult to navigate, offensive content remains on a website, and cyberbullying persists.
Our cyberbullying attorneys are not afraid to take on the big tech companies and hold them accountable when their own actionable conduct causes harm.
Emotional distress damages available for cyberbullying
Emotional distress damages may be available in certain cases to compensate victims for any psychological trauma caused by the harassment. This can include anxiety, depression, humiliation, shame, embarrassment, and other types of mental anguish. These damages are non-economic, meaning they do not have a fixed dollar value, and so, they are much more difficult to calculate.
Although cyberbullying causes significant emotional distress, there are other types of damages available in these cases, as well. For example, if a young person needed therapy to work through their trauma, this out-of-pocket expense is also recoverable in a lawsuit. Our cyberbullying injury lawyers can review the facts of your case and help you pursue full damages.
FAQs
What evidence is needed in cyberbullying claims?
When proving your cyberbullying case, you need strong evidence that supports your claim. Because this type of harassment occurs online, digital evidence often makes up the bulk of proof in these cases. Common types of evidence include:
- Screenshots capturing the harassment, including the handle or username of the perpetrator, timestamps, dates, and any context specific to a platform such as a logo
- Any platform metadata, such as unique post IDs, URLs, and forwarded emails showing headers
- Full messages in chat logs and entire threads in comments sections rather than isolated text
- Documentation establishing that a fraudulent account was created, alongside screenshots of the original account showing it was not created by the victim
Digital evidence can be deleted relatively easily, even if only temporarily. Due to this, it is critical to preserve original and unedited screenshots and other records as soon as possible. Our teen cyberbullying attorneys can advise on the necessary evidence and help you collect it to strengthen your case.
Can anonymous online users be identified?
Yes, it is possible to identify anonymous users online. When a lawsuit is filed against a harasser, a subpoena may seek identifying records from a social media company, subject to applicable First Amendment and procedural safeguards. This is common in cyberbullying cases, as well as those involving grooming.
What platforms are commonly involved in cyberbullying claims?
Due to their direct messaging features and public comment sections, Facebook and Instagram have high rates of cyberbullying complaints. Online harassment is also common on Snapchat and TikTok due to disappearing messages and rapid video sharing. In some instances, legal action can be pursued against social media platforms under specific liability theories. It is important to note that federal law, including Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, can limit claims based on third-party content alone.
What should parents do after severe cyberbullying?
It is natural for parents to feel uncertain about the next steps to take after their child becomes a victim of cyberbullying. Parents often feel angry and may even want to take matters into their own hands. It is important to resist the temptation. Instead, take the following steps:
- Document all instances of harassment: Do not delete any offensive or abusive messages. Instead, take screenshots of the content, making sure to capture the date, time, and usernames.
- Report the bullying: Block the perpetrators on all social media accounts using the safety and anti-harassment features on the specific sites. If your child’s classmate is the bully, also report the behavior to school officials and provide them with the necessary evidence.
- Contact law enforcement: If the bullying involves extortion, stalking, or sharing explicit images, contact law enforcement to report it.
- Encourage an online break: Instead of retaliating or confronting the bully directly, encourage your child to take a break from social media, and perhaps online altogether, to give them time to decompress.
- Seek professional help: If you notice changes in your child’s behavior or mood, consider speaking to a mental health professional who can help them process their trauma and regain their confidence.
- Call an internet harassment lawyer in D.C.: An attorney can advise on your case, help you collect the necessary evidence, and hold social media platforms accountable.
How to find a cyberbullying injury attorney near me
If your child has suffered harm due to cyberbullying, do not hesitate to find a lawyer near you. We are proud to help families throughout Washington, D.C., including Georgetown.
Call our cyberbullying injury lawyers in Washington, D.C. today
At Nace Law Group, our Washington, D.C. cyberbullying injury lawyers know the harms of online harassment and can provide the sound, compassionate advice you need. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help protect your loved ones.