Q.Assertion (A) : Cyber Bullying can have serious, emotional and psychological effects on victims. Reason (R) : Online Bullying is not a crime while offline bullying is a crime. (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation for (A). (B) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation for (A). (C) (A) is true and (R) is false. (D) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Cyber bullying—harassment, threats, or humiliation carried out through digital platforms—does indeed inflict serious emotional and psychological harm on victims. Young people especially face anxiety, depression, and a sense of helplessness when targeted online, making Assertion (A) entirely correct.

Reason (R), however, is factually wrong. Online bullying is very much a crime under Indian law. The Information Technology Act, 2000 (and its 2008 amendment) explicitly addresses cyber offences, including cyber bullying, stalking, and harassment. Provisions like Section 66A (now struck down but replaced by other safeguards) and Section 67 penalize offensive or obscene online content. Offline bullying may fall under IPC sections dealing with intimidatio …

The rise of digital communication has brought with it a darker side: cyber bullying, where individuals use electronic platforms to harass, threaten, intimidate or humiliate others. The assertion that cyber bullying can have serious emotional and psychological effects on victims is unquestionably true. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem, social withdrawal, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. The persistent nature of online harassment — messages that can be shared, screenshotted, and revisited repeatedly — often makes the psychological impact even more severe than traditional bullying. The anonymity and reach of the internet can amplify the harm, leaving victims feeling trapped and helpless.

Now consider the reason offered: that online bullying is not a crime while offline bullying is. This statement is factually incorrect. Indian law does not draw such a distinction. Several provisions in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (and its 2008 amendments) specifically address cyber crimes, including cyber bullying. Section 66A (though struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 for being vague) was initially intended to address offensive online messages. More importantly, Section 67 deals with publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form, and Section 66E addresses privacy violations through electronic means.

Beyond the IT Act, the Indian Penal Code applies equally to online and offline conduct. Provisions such as:

• Section 354D (stalking, including cyber stalking)
• Section 499 (defamation, applicable to online defamatory content)
• Section 503 and 506 (criminal intimidation, regardless of medium)
• Section 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman, including through electronic messages) …