Today's world is more connected than ever, thanks to the internet. With the click of a button, we can share our thoughts, experiences, and even our most intimate moments with the entire world. However, whether you meant to or not, those details are now permanently out there because even when you delete a post, it still exists in some form or other on the internet.

Unfortunately, this also means that anything anyone else posts about you, or vice versa, is permanently memorialized on the web. If you post a video or picture that inadvertently embarrasses another student, you could be referred for disciplinary action at your school.

Cyberbullying on Campus

Most students believe that the actions they take off campus cannot be adjudicated by their school administration, even though most of their conduct codes explicitly state that they can. As such, if a student were to post a video or picture of something another student or person, and that picture or video embarrassed the student, the school could punish them. The name of the specific regulation doesn't seem to matter as much as whether the accused student intended to embarrass the other student or was given consent to film them. This umbrella term is usually referred to as cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is generally defined as using electronic communication to bully or harass someone, which could include posting an embarrassing video online, especially if the video is widely circulated and causes significant harm to the victim. When a school looks at a case to determine whether it falls under cyberbullying, they will investigate whether the poster intended to harass, humiliate, or harm the person in the video. If so, they are more than likely going to be found responsible for the behavior.

How an Attorney-Advisor Can Help

Bullying tends to be a chronic disease that is not prejudiced, infecting anyone who is susceptible to it. Because of this, many students are unaware that their actions would constitute cyberbullying and are then completely overwhelmed when a formal accusation is made. Disciplinary actions are serious proceedings whose results could greatly impact the rest of your life. It is important to reach out to an attorney-advisor as soon as possible to understand the nature of the issue, a possible defense, and what the next steps might be.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team have years of experience helping students in similar situations. They understand how overwhelming it can be to be accused of cyberbullying and will work tirelessly to ease the burden for you. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.