The number of young people who spend the majority of their time on the internet has led to an increase in cyberbullying. It has almost evolved into a rite of passage. Teenagers are usually either the offender or the victim of cyberbullying.
People have just recently identified cyberbullying as a major issue. Unfortunately, there is still disagreement over whether or not it counts as bullying. You can reach your conclusions after looking at the facts. Cyberbullying is a major issue that impacts far too many kids, teens, and adults globally.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is generally seen as an intentional act committed against a victim who cannot easily defend themselves through repeated digital forms of communication. Because the victim of cyberbullying can be bullied at any time of day or night and frequently have no idea who is doing it, it differs from traditional bullying.
Due to their participation in various social media platforms, programs, and applications, children and teenagers are more exposed to cyberbullying. Examples of such platforms include Instagram, Facebook, Snap Chat, Twitter, WhatsApp, Whisper, and YouTube. Some applications allow sending messages anonymously or expire after a certain time, but the image recipient can screenshot it and expose it later.
Some Facts About Cyberbullying
Social Media is the Main Source of Cyberbullying
Nowadays, social media platforms represent a significant percentage of all teenage socializing, making them a popular place for bullying. Monitoring Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok usage can help lower the risk.
Girls Experience Cyberbullying More Frequently
Cyberbullying frequently forms stereotypical “mean girl” behavior and impacts girls and young women at shockingly high rates. It is necessary to take action to support girls in advocating for themselves, building strong self-esteem, and developing supportive communities.
More than a Third of Students Experience Cyberbullying
Students of all ages suffer cyberbullying at surprisingly high rates. These might range from consistently unfavorable interactions to sexual harassment to bullies imitating the victim of cyberbullying and sharing inaccurate or private information about them.
Nearly 25% of Students Acknowledge Behaving Rudely
The anonymity provided by the Internet makes it far too simple for people to harass and bully others. This frequently happens due to joining forces with troublemakers to fit in with the crowd.
Most People Who Are Victims of Cyberbullying Take No Action
As we already noted, while some participate, most people who see cyberbullying online take no action to stop it. Additionally, hardly any observers or victims of cyberbullying report the behavior to their parents, professors, or social networking sites.
Cyberbullying in Online Games Is Common
All video games have some form of humorous “trash talking,” but more games are linked to online communities where cyberbullying is common. This results in the victim being excluded, becoming the target of violent attacks, and losing access to their preferred activity.
Smartphone Use Is associated with an increase
Nowadays, preventing cyberbullying on the most widely used chat applications and interactive games might be challenging because most kids have access to their phones by the time they are ten years old. There is more youth affected since there is more constant access.
Rates Rise by More Than 50% for LGBTQ+ Students
Participation in the LGBTQ community significantly increases the chance of being cyberbullied, along with racial and socioeconomic variables. Even though the new generation has made great progress toward inclusion, far too many young people continue to be publicly humiliated against their will and subject to abuse.
Cyberbullying Increases Suicide Risk in Youth
For kids and teenagers, rates of sadness, anxiety, and suicide ideation have steadily risen over the past ten years. One of the major causes of these terrible things is cyberbullying.
Youth, Parents, Teachers, Administrators, and Others Can Prevent Cyberbullying
If the rising cases of cyberbullying are going to decrease, everyone must work to make improvements. Additionally, chat applications, gaming websites, and social media platforms must improve their rules and develop strong measures to deal with any cyberbullying activity.
Is Cyberbullying Dangerous?
It is, indeed.
Victim of cyberbullying is more likely to report poor academic performance and other issues due to the incident. Cyberbullying can have negative social, intellectual, and health effects, which should not be shocking. In addition to having a higher chance of suicidal thoughts and attempts, victim of cyberbullying usually has higher rates of sadness and low self-esteem. Cyberbullying also increases a child’s chances of anxiety and sleep issues. Additionally, it might make substance misuse more likely in later life.
What Can a Person Do If They Are a Victim of Cyberbullying?
Even while being the target of cyberbullying can make you feel helpless, there are things you can do to protect yourself and get support. The most crucial action to take is to speak with a trusted adult as soon as you become aware of a problem.
First and foremost, it’s essential to keep any traces of cyberbullying, including messages, postings, comments, etc. If there are any means to identify the specific source of the comments, note it as well. Second, get in touch with the service or content provider where cyberbullying occurs. Contact them, for instance, if you are experiencing cyberbullying on Facebook.
You should contact your cell phone provider for support if you frequently receive threatening or offensive text messages. In keeping with that, get familiar with the terms of service for the many websites you visit and the online accounts you open. Many websites restrict harassment, and if you report it through specified channels, They should promptly remove the offending material and bullying. Certain website administrators are faster and more skilled at doing this than others.
Additionally, only politely advise the cyberbully to quit when responding to them. If they reject, you might need to take further steps. You should contact police enforcement to investigate if you ever feel unsafe. They can assess the legitimacy of any threats presented. If so, the authorities will conduct an official investigation. They can evaluate your circumstance with the aid of the proof you have gathered.
What should not do if someone is a victim of cyberbullying
- You will not accomplish anything by starting your cyberbullying campaign against the bully, especially if you break school or state regulations.
- Sending a bullying-related message to a friend only makes the issue worse. How far an email chain can spread is unpredictable.
- Do not allow bullies to undermine your sense of self-esteem. No one should harass anybody. Cyberbullies frequently care more about themselves than you, as evidenced by their cowardly and destructive behavior. When bullying brings you down, confide in someone you know will help you get back up.
Conclusion
Understandably, so many teenagers are the victims of Cyberbullying. How frequently do the adults in their lives use insulting language about others? Do your share to set a good example, and correct it when someone uses inappropriate language. Hopefully, your children and others will notice, remember, and behave appropriately.
We hope that this article may be helpful to adult victims of cyberbullying or internet harassment.
