Watch CBS News

Study Finds Bullies and Their Targets the Same in Many Cases

It may have been inevitable that cyberbullying would twist inside out, knotting up some kids to the point that they role-play both sides of a conflict — the aggressor and the target — and post vile comments about themselves online. Think of it as the digital equivalent to cutting, a way for hurting kids to talk about the awful things going on inside their heads.

"Drink bleach." "Kill ur self." "Go die evry1 wuld be happy."

Those were among the taunts that appeared on the social media pages of Hannah Smith, a Leicestershire, England, 14-year-old who hanged herself in 2013. At first, her death appeared to be another sad case of a teen choosing death to escape vicious online bullying. But as more information came out, a fresh horror emerged: Hannah had been trolling herself online.

Click here to continue.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.