The cyber-universe has the effect of equalizing everybody. You don't have to be big and strong to be a bully anymore. The distaste that most people feel toward physically violent bullying doesn't necessarily apply to electronic bullying. It's easy to say something like "I was just kidding" when your bullying doesn't cause bruises or draw blood. The electronically socially connected groups make it easy to engage in "mob mentality." Those who find vindication in villifying others have never had such an easy time of it as they do now.

Back in the 80's, before cell phones and social networking, I was bullied with mean notes passed to me by anonymous people, or notes being taped on my locker from "friends" declaring to me that the friendship was over. This was followed by being ostracized from lunch tables, parties, and class groups. I heard about physical fights at school, but was never involved in any myself. If fights did break out, no one had a cell phone to record it or redistribute it. School officials promptly broke up the fights and that was the end of it except for a couple of days of gossiping. Prank phone calls were also used to hurt kids, but since phone lines were usually all one throughout the house, there was always the chance that a parent could get on the phone and bust the kids. Caller ID helped to identify prank call numbers, so parents could call back and talk to the other kids' parents. The same thing happens, now, but it happens more quickly and reaches more people. A fight among a group of girls could stay between themselves for the most part in the 80s, but now, everyone can be involved through all sorts of media.