Cyberbullying in Organizations

Introduction

Cyberbullying in the workplace is harassment or bullying that occurs through digital channels, such as email, instant messaging, social media, or other online platforms. It involves using these digital channels to engage in behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate another person. Examples of cyberbullying in the workplace include; sending threatening or harassing messages to an individual or group through email or instant messaging, spreading rumors or making derogatory comments about a coworker on social media or other online forums, posting explicit or inappropriate material about a coworker online, using technology to stalk or monitor a coworker's activities, either online or offline, sending offensive or insulting emails or messages that are intended to cause distress or harm to a coworker. Cyberbullying in the workplace can significantly impact the victim's mental health and well-being, as well as their job performance and productivity. It can also create a toxic work environment and damage the organization’s reputation.

In the mutual relationship environment, one or more of the parties directly or indirectly to the physical, moral, moral, and spiritual integrity of the others; If he acts in a way that harms his symbolic and symbolic cultural values, there is violence there. Violence, which has always existed throughout the history of humanity, has emerged in new types in the information age. Wars, murders, and physical and psychological attacks have expanded with the possibilities of new media (Bayrak & Yengin, 2021; Michaud, 1986). The form of violence aimed at psychological, sexual, or economic attack in the digital environment is called digital violence. The possibilities offered by digital technology allow the uninterrupted practice of violence. This situation causes digital violence to enter human life as a new type of violence (Çelik, 2018; Barındık, 2018). The communication habit of the Internet, especially in social media environments, keeps people in a perception of freedom outside of social boundaries. Thus, all the possibilities of irregularity, evil, and rudeness in the chaotic world of human beings are transferred to the digital space. With the courage arising from invisibility in the digital environment, the individual can be unpredictable, unmeasured, and dangerous, unlike real social life.

The networks formed by the telecommunication network transform the world into a “network of interconnected relations,” The individual who is watched, controlled, and monitored in the digital environment is increasingly isolated and alienated within this network. National structures face a communication spiral they cannot hold within the communication network. Today, states spy on individuals for “security” reasons, creating a kind of surveillance paranoia in societies. As a result of high-tech communication and transportation facilities, the possibility of surveillance is expanding in a wide range from individual-society and state-society relations to international relations. On a global scale, news and information are reprocessed and formatted, and a new type of information develops over events and news. Through this mechanism, the “perception of reality” is manipulated, and the “product” produced is packaged as news and presented to the consumption of all world societies (Bayrak, 2017; Paçacı, 2014; Ridings, Gefen & Arinze, 2002; Günüç, 2012). Some of them may contain various violent content.

Examples of cyberbullying in the workplace include sending threatening or harassing messages to an individual or group through email or instant messaging and spreading rumors or derogatory comments about a coworker on social media or other online forums, and posting explicit or inappropriate material about a coworker online and using technology to stalk or monitor a coworker's activities online or offline and sending offensive or insulting emails or messages intended to cause distress or harm to a coworker. Cyberbullying in the workplace can significantly impact the victim's mental health and well-being, as well as their job performance and productivity. It can also create a toxic work environment and damage the organization’s reputation. Organizations can prevent cyberbullying in the workplace by establishing clear policies, providing education and training to employees, and taking swift action when cyberbullying is reported. Creating a culture of respect and inclusivity can also help to reduce the likelihood of cyberbullying and promote a positive work environment for all employees.