Cyberbullying & Online Harassment

Cyberbullying is a growing global epidemic. Children and teens are bullied more on the Internet than in person, thanks to smartphones and social media. The impact of this kind of harassment is severe and often leads to depression and suicide.  We understand the deep emotional and mental trauma associated with bullying and cyberbullying.

Our law firm has experience holding schools accountable for children bullied in school or by students using social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, among others.

Florida’s Early Learning-20 Education Code defines “cyberbullying” to include “bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication.” Fla. Stat. § 1006.147 (2022). The statute includes email, internet communications, instant messages, faxes, websites, and blogs in its descriptive and nonexclusive list of electronic means of bullying.

“Bullying” includes “cyberbullying” and means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve:

1. Teasing;
2. Social exclusion;
3. Threat;
4. Intimidation;
5. Stalking;
6. Physical violence;
7. Theft;
8. Sexual, religious, or racial harassment;
9. Public or private humiliation; or
10. Destruction of property.

When a child is bullied at school, the parents of the child may have a claim for negligent supervision, among other claims. Unlike a private school, however, public schools in Florida (schools run by the government) are subject to Florida’s sovereign immunity statute which can likely delay and complicate the claims process against a public school.

If you or your child have been the victim of bullying, we would welcome the opportunity to provide you with a free and confidential consultation.