Cyberbullying is a very serious issue that affects a lot of people in a very negative way. It gets quite vicious because it’s a lot easier to hide behind a computer and say rude things or put others down. Sometimes people go as far as to create fake accounts and attack you that way. Recently, there has been a lot of reports from people who are seeing that someone on Facebook is trying to emulate them by using a fake account. These accounts have gone so far to friend request the friend’s of this person. This is known as identity theft and is tactic that many cyberbullies are adopting.
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Cyberbulling is a very serious matter that needs our attention.
The internet is a lot of fun, but it can be a very dangerous, volatile and hostile place. These actions are occurring more and more and it is a very serious, trending issue that we need to do something about. One that has always existed, but is really starting to blow up now, and take the forefront of our attention. Victims of cyberbullying suffer a lot as it is a very hurtful act, which no one should engage in, but also when someone else is is using your identity it is very scary. Suddenly, you could be held responsible for someone’s wrongful actions.
Block anyone who is bullying you on the internet.
Am I Cyberbullying?
Are you attacking people online? Are you saying hurtful things to people? Are you putting others down on the internet? Are you creating other fake accounts? Are you stealing other people’s identities on the web?
If you answered yes to any of the following questions, then you are cyberbullying. Even if you aren’t going to these extremes, but are still saying mean, rude, or hurtful things on the internet, you are taking part in cyberbullying.
The internet can be a painful place.
How Serious is This Problem?
Cyberbullying is heavily linked to teenage depression. According to Scientific American: “victimization of young people online has received an increasing level of scrutiny, particularly after a series of high-profile suicides of teenagers who were reportedly bullied on various social networks. In 2013, for example, a spate of suicides was linked to the social network Ask.fm, where users can ask each other questions anonymously. The deaths of teens who had been subject to abuse on the site prompted Ask.fm (which was acquired by Ask.com in 2014) to launch new safety efforts. Twitter, likewise, announced plans in April to filter out abusive tweets and suspend bullying users.”
Cyberbullying causes people intense pain.
If cyberbullying is leading to people’s deaths, we need to take it more seriously. It needs to stop. And we can’t help but ask is this just a silly game to these people or are these really their intentions? We would hope not and that if cyberbullies knew more about the effects they are having on young people that they would stop.
It is reported through studies that bullying's effects can be as bad or worse than child abuse. So if you are cyberbullying you have to really ask yourself if it’s worth it? Is this what you are setting out to do? If you really search within yourself, you might find that you don’t want to hurt people to this degree. Do you really want to contribute to someone’s death? Or pain so deep that it is compared to child abuse? This is a very serious matter and it needs to be dealt with. We can’t break our youth because of cyberbullying, we need to be building them up and providing them with the support they need. Many victims live in silence when this is something we need to talk about. We encourage kids to come out and talk about this matter as that’s the first step to making it go away.
Cyberbullying is taking people's lives. This needs to stop.
Tips to prevent/protect yourself from Cyberbullying:
- Block anyone who is bullying you
- Report these actions to Facebook or whatever site you on are
- Never engage with the bully, let them try to start something, but don’t involve yourself, you are better than that
- Only accept friend requests from people you know, even if the picture is of someone you know, check out the account first to make sure it is legit.
- If this person is bothering your friends encourage them to block, delete and report it.
- Let the social platform that you are on know of what is taking place so that hopefully these accounts can be closed
- If someone is stealing your identity online, do your best to let people know (online) that this isn’t you and they should report it, and not accept their friend request
- Remember, bullying stops with you, ignore it, focus on positive things and don’t let it get to you as hard as it is
Speak out about your experiences and help stop cyberbullying now.
Helplines & Resources:
- TeenMentalHealth.org
- KidsHealth - A safe, private place for kids & teens who need honest, accurate information and advice about health, emotions, and life.
- Teen Line - A helpline for kids and teens to work through their personal issues and mental health as needed. 1-800-TLC-TEEN or 1-800-852-8336 (Toll-Free US & Canada).
- Mind Infoline – Information on self-harm and a helpline to call in the UK at 0300 123 3393 or text 86463.
- Kids Help Phone – Free, anonymous and bilingual helpline for young people in Canada, available 24/7 by phone, Live Chat, and the Always There chat app for any issue, including self-injury and suicide. Call 1-800-668-6868 or visit kidshelpphone.ca.
- Kids Helpline – A helpline for kids and young adults in Australia to get help with issues including cutting and self-harm. Call 1800 55 1800. (Kids Helpline).
Have Your Say
Have you ever been a victim to Cyberbullying? How did you handle it? Comment below
