I hope this is in the right forum. It must be because I believe this is related to school. So this is a pretty simple thread asking: what do you think caused bullying to be a major problem? We all have our own theories, so let's all try to not be judgmental, but it is still good to debate on this. So here's my theory. 

What I think caused it was the content that's on TV, or just violence through society, but this one makes more sense. Clearly, bullies now wanted to meet more people like them, and get more attention. Don't you see? Because bullies cannot find friends, they decide to just get friends by picking on kids to get attention! Obvious, I know. I think bullies USED to be nerds, but they decided to retire from that to get more attention. So what do you think happened to cause bullying to be a big problem through society? 

PixelBrick : the way they are raised and yes like you said, tv, etc. good thing it is now officially illegal.

Eniitan : Hey! I myself was abused, and I have NEVER bullied in my lifetime. And yes, it cannot be dealt with. It is very hard to avoid...

I believe TV shows with insults or stereotypes caused bullying to spread. Now it's spreading like wildfire because there are a lot of TV shows that have insults or sterotypes.

Interesting question... I've seen a lot of bullying and I've been bullied myself, so I have a lot to say about this topic..

First of all, why do some people bully others?
I think the reasons vary from person to person but I guess some people want to act cool in front of others. I think that if the bully want to make sure he/she has friends in a group of people (a school class for example), the bully then chooses one person to pick on so the others will be his/her friend only because they don't want to be the on being bullied. I believe another reason is jealousy. The bully is jealous of someone, and starts to bully that person thinking that ''if this person has something that I want to have, he/she should at least not be happy too.
Of curse there are a million reasons to why some people bully others and these are just a few that I've seen.
I was bullied for many years, because I was different and I learned that if you don't pay attention and don't listen to what the bullies say or do to you it's much easier to handle, all they want is your attention, they want to see you cry, don't give them what they want, fight back, stay strong and don't ever give up! As some people before me said that most bullies have been picked on themselves, that is NOT true, maybe some of them has, but absolutely not all of them! I was bullied and those horrible years has made me stronger than I was before, no one would ever pick on me again, I'm not weak anymore. I would never, ever pick on someone! If I see a bully nowadays, I walk up to him/her and talk some sense into him/her! Bullying is not right!

Awesome-Kid : Finally someone who posted in this thread and didn't blame television and media.

Bullying is not some recent uprising problem. It has been around for a LONG time. Saying it is television, video games, media are just going for a cop-out answer. But violence has been around in other forms before it was uprising in television. The big difference is that this current generation is way to into "letting kids be themselves" and "parents need to be supportive" attitude. A.K.A let my kid watch, play, do whatever they want and not teach them what is appropriate. Kids are growing up with this mentality that they should not have to put up with anyone else's crap. It is the parent's job to teach their kids that though they are special to them, they are still members of society and not above other people. Part of life is putting up with other people's crap in a professional manner. But kids think it is okay because they get no consequences for being D-bags. 
There is always that ridiculous argument that "kids who bully are almost always exposed to violent media". Well duh. That is like saying a vegetarian becomes a vegetarian due to being around fruits/grains/vegetables. The food doesn't cause them to be vegetarian, they decide to be vegetarian and seek out the food. Media doesn't make bullies. Kids who are bullies seek out violent media. But they were bullies before. The problem is that you need proper parenting to teach you what is acceptable behavior. 

Pixelbrick. I don't know what kind or what level of abuse you had. But it is a pretty jerk thing to say that because you didn't bully with your upbringing that it is unacceptable to say there are kids that all kids should be able to cope with it in an acceptable way. I am referring to your post where you said "Hey! I myself was abused, and I have NEVER bullied in my lifetime." Good for you and all, but you do not represent the rest of kids who have gone through abuse.