What is the act of using communication technology to deliberately harass someone called?

• A. Teasing
• B. Joking
• C. Punking
• D. Cyberbullying

Answer: (D)

The act of using communication technology to deliberately harass someone is called cyberbullying. This term specifically refers to bullying that takes place over digital devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. Cyberbullying can involve sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, and it can happen on social media platforms, forums, or through text messages.

The distinction here is that cyberbullying is a targeted behavior that aims to intimidate or harm an individual, often involving repeated actions. In contrast, teasing, joking, and punking do not necessarily imply a pattern of harassment or the intent to cause emotional distress that characterizes cyberbullying. These terms might refer to light-hearted or playful interactions that do not involve malicious intent, whereas cyberbullying explicitly denotes harmful intent through the use of technology.