Victims of cyberbullying crimes

a look from the perspective of children and adolescents

Abstract

This study is set in the context of the rapid expansion of social networks and the attendant risks of cyberbullying against children and adolescents, emphasizing the need for swift legal responses. The objective is to analyze the phenomenon of cyberbullying from a legal perspective, identifying legislative gaps and progress in criminal typification and protection policies. A bibliographic methodology was adopted, comprising the collection and systematization of doctrine, legislation, and relevant judicial decisions on bullying and virtual aggression. As results, the main applicable legal frameworks were identified, highlighting the absence of a specific cyberbullying statute and the slowness of normative updates, as well as the documented negative effects on the psychological and social development of victims. It is concluded that, despite isolated advances, the delay in legislative improvement and the lack of effective legal accountability mechanisms exacerbate the suffering of children and adolescents often causing severe, hard‑to‑remedy consequences underscoring the urgency of legal reforms and effective public policies.