Cyberbullying Laws by State
Authored by Matthew Izzi, LegalMatch Legal Writer and Attorney at LawLocate a Local Criminal Lawyer
What Is Cyberbullying?
"Cyberbullying" refers to using technology or the Internet to threaten, harm, or harass others. The effects of cyberbullying on those who are being bullied can be very serious, and some have even sadly taken their lives. In response, many states have enacted cyberbullying laws.
Cyberbullying can occur in two ways:
- Cyberstalking – Using electronic communications to threaten someone else. Electronic communications include anything from email to text messages to cellular phones. In order to qualify as “cyberstalking,” the threat of harm must be credible.
- Cyberharassment – Using of instant messages, blog comments, emails, social media or other online communications to harass someone else. This may sound similar to cyberstalking, but it does not require any threat. Instead, lying, spreading rumors, intentionally embarrassing someone by sharing pictures of them without their consent may qualify.
Do All States Have Cyberbullying Laws?
Currently, 49 states have some form of anti-bullying law, almost all of which can apply in some way to cyberbullying. Below is a quick chart of cyberbullying laws by state
|
State |
Anti-Bullying Law? |
Cyberbullying Specific Law? |
Cyber Harassment? |
Cyber Stalking? |
Criminal? |
|
Alabama |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Alaska |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Arizona |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Arkansas |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
California |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Colorado |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Connecticut |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Delaware |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Florida |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Georgia |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Hawaii |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Idaho |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Illinois |
Yes |
Yes |
Repealed |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Indiana |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Iowa |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Potential |
|
Kansas |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Kentucky |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Louisiana |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Maine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Maryland |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Massachusetts |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Michigan |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Minnesota |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Mississippi |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Missouri |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Montana |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Nebraska |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
New Hampshire |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
New Jersey |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
New Mexico |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
New York |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
North Carolina |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
North Dakota |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
Yes |
|
Ohio |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Oklahoma |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Oregon |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Potential |
|
Pennsylvania |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rhode Island |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
South Carolina |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
South Dakota |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Texas |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Utah |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Vermont |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Virginia |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Washington |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
West Virginia |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Potential |
|
Wisconsin |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Wyoming |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Seeking Legal Advice
Bullying is an increasingly serious social problem. With the increase of social media and people using the Internet, cyberbullying has become more and more criminalized. If you may have engaged in cyberbullying, you should consider seeking the advice of a local attorney in your state to be counseled on what your next step should be. Likewise, if you have been the victim of cyberbullying, an attorney familiar with the laws of you state can help ensure your bullying stops and help you get compensation for your harm.
Consult a Lawyer - Present Your Case Now!
Last Modified: 10-26-2016 09:37 AM PDT
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