Chubb’s relatively new cyberbullying endorsement on its homeowners coverage was created largely due to the influence of its insurance agents, the company said recently.
Christie Alderman, a Chubb executive who works with agents, said that when she asked about the best way to help customers, “one answer rose right to the top”: protecting them against the dangers of cyberbullying.
The resulting policy covers both children and even adults, and would cover for wrongful termination, false arrest, time off from work, psychiatric care and temporary relocation, among other things.
The cyberbullying insurance policy only takes effect once damage has been done, with the amount capped to $60,000. The claimant must prove that damage has been done; children should have a professional acknowledge that they have been victims to cyberbullying.
On top of coverage for the emotional and psychological damage caused by cyberbullying, Chubb has offered to set clients up with forensic cyber security specialists. These tech experts can track down the source of the online slurs, as well as create a professional public relations campaign that could mitigate the damage done by the bullies.
In cyberbullying, online applications such as social media are used to harass, intimidate or coerce victims. Posting slander on social media not only allows the bully to spew toxic remarks without consequence, but also share the maligned comment with others who may try to add their own insults. While traditional bullying is typically regulated to school grounds, cyberbullying persists in the online realm, hounding victims whenever they log on.
The popularity of smartphones among young people has only aided in the growth of cyberbullying. A study conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center (CRC) revealed that about a quarter of students who responded to the survey said that they have been bullied. The same survey discovered that 16% of the surveyed admitted to bullying others online.
Another CRC survey, this time of a Midwest school, found that over 40% of the students were on Facebook or Instagram, and 63% had their own cell phone and nearly everyone was online. The survey revealed that girls were both the likely victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying.
Adults can also become the targets of cyberbullying, or cyber-smearing as it has been called. Estranged couples are typically involved in cyber-smearing, especially when one half of the couple posts hateful online content against the other.
