Right. It doesn't involve beating some kid up any more, it's more like smearing them on social media and character assassination that gets them shunned or reviled by most of the student body. Such is often seriously undeserved, but that doesn't stop the pile-on mentality. Once it becomes popular to demean someone, they don't have a chance to overturn that. It can be pretty brutal, and I have known kids this has happened to.
The same ones wh do it use the rules against physical violence to hide behind. and most,. if they had to stand toe-to-toe with the ones they crap on would get their asses kicked. Instead, they feel powerful because they can say most anything (especially about a straight student) and know they are unlikely to ever suffer any repercussions (mommy would be the first to call the police if their little precious got the comeuppance they would have in my day).
@Smokin Joe They only do that because people allow them to get away with it. Bullies are bullies,regardless of sexual orientation,gender,race,or any other factor. I have had minority and gender-bender bullies try their crap with me,and make it known in unmistakable ways that I will alter their lives forever if they continue,and have yet to have one not slink away.
Yeah,they know that they will be able to get you arrested tomorrow if the police can track you down,but they are more interested in the "RIGHT NOW" than they are the "tomorrow".