It's very much a thing, and not at all in the open.
Used to be in the open (circa LiveJournal/Tumblr) but everything started moving to closed Instagram circles and the like, particularly messaging apps that allow senders to retract messages or alter any easily-discoverable paper trail. Kids are moving away from SMS and onto Snapchat/Whatsapp for spin control.
So bullies become "victims" when they provoke someone, receive a predictable response, then delete the provocative messages they sent (which is deleted on both ends!). The resulting conversation makes it look like the victim is attacking the bully.
The bully claims harassment by victim to parents and teachers. Neither subpoenas for records so they accept the bully's story and evidence and punish the real victim.
Used to be in the open (circa LiveJournal/Tumblr) but everything started moving to closed Instagram circles and the like, particularly messaging apps that allow senders to retract messages or alter any easily-discoverable paper trail. Kids are moving away from SMS and onto Snapchat/Whatsapp for spin control.
So bullies become "victims" when they provoke someone, receive a predictable response, then delete the provocative messages they sent (which is deleted on both ends!). The resulting conversation makes it look like the victim is attacking the bully.
The bully claims harassment by victim to parents and teachers. Neither subpoenas for records so they accept the bully's story and evidence and punish the real victim.