Bullying: Addressing Cyberbullying and its Impact on Adolescents

Abstract

Bullying as a whole is generally considered any verbal or physical attack on another individual. The key word in this definition is an attack, whereas the action is deemed as violent. With the new age and technology that is increasing in popularity, everything in this world grows and evolves. An increase in Internet use and social media, as well as cell phones, has created a whole new genre of bullying commonly known as cyberbullying. Both bullying and cyberbullying should not be taken lightly as the increase in these has migrated into schools now more than ever before and has made many negative impacts on students as adolescents.

Anyone who may experience such trauma is more likely to develop mental illnesses and even depression. There are many informative and helpful ways that someone can help put an end to bullying, and they should take the time to learn about how these can be implemented in daily routines to help put an end to the trauma children are exposed to more so as technology develops. Learning how to protect yourself online and also having trusted adults to intervene can save someone who may be a victim of such violence.

Introduction

Bullying over the past few decades has evolved tremendously. With the use of social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as cell phones being such a popular form of communication, comes a downfall for those growing up in this generation. The exposure to bullying through these social media trends has skyrocketed to an uneasy number. Bullying as a whole is defined as either verbal or physical abuse to intentionally intimidate some other party. The instigator usually is seen as high and mighty to his or her peers, which in turn can be an ego boost to the individual who is bullying. As such, there is no reason that one should condone such behavior, and to put an end to cyberbullying in schools nowadays, adults have and should maintain effective ways to prevent these acts of hate.

Types of Cyberbullying

Bullying in earlier days would mainly consist of certain time frames at schools when in hours of operation, yet in recent years, with technology, cyberbullying is a more advanced form that can ultimately take place at any time. Whether it be during school hours or after school going into the night, teens nowadays have an even more difficult time avoiding such behavior. Internet having so many pros, unfortunately, has led to letting young adults have the ability to harass anyone whom they want whenever they want. There are many negative side effects to being bullied, such as social anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, or even extreme cases, such as thoughts leading up to suicide. With the consequences in many situations being so severe, one should know what signs they could look for in these teens to further their own abilities to determine potential victims. Some red flags, according to S. G. Maharaja, maybe “depression, consistent tiredness, absence from school, physical injuries, or avoiding social interactions with other students, low self-esteem, or even a sudden loss of friends.” (Maharaja, 2017.) Being in tune with the students and noticing any behaviors that may seem out of the ordinary is an important aspect of this generation growing up. Many students are fearful of actually speaking up if they are being bullied for fear of some kind of retaliation from the student who is bullying them. Being a trusted adult for these teens to trust is important and could help someone who may really be in need. If not taken seriously, many of these students who were the victim of cyberbullying risk higher chances of carrying weapons to school campuses as well as engaging in physical fights. Back in earlier years, the two safest places were schools and churches. With the increase in cyberbullying, sadly, schools are not as safe as they used to be. Being adults and the parents of those we are raising, we must take a stand and not allow these events to persist.

Cyberbullying Prevention

Fortunately, there are many ways that one can help prevent the actions of cyberbullying. First and foremost, according to S. G. Maharaja, “Do not ever friend people online if you do not know them, even if you have mutual friends in common” (Maharaja, 2017.) There are many people in this world who create online profiles and impersonate others, and you never know what their intentions may be. There are privacy settings that one should take advantage of, such as people only being able to view your page if you are friends. Even with this privacy setting, it is still recommended to encouraged to be wise when posting online as well, for the Internet is never really private anyway. Another way to bring an end to bullying is to bring it to light in meetings or settings where teachers and parents talk with their children and inform them of ways to deal with bullies. Speaking up and shedding light on the subject may encourage students to hold their own ground and let them know it is okay to address these things with a trusted adult. Holding these feelings in can really be a detrimental decision.

Conclusion

Therefore, one of the best forms of prevention is communicating with adolescents. Teens of today are the youth of the nation in that they are the future. Emotions and imagination are something that makes them different. One should not be criticized for being different. Differences create doctors who save a life in the future. It is important that the mental state of these teens is protected, for they are the future of the world.

References

1. “Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress” by Nancy E. Willard
2. “Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying” by Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin
3. “Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral” by Justin W. Patchin and Sameer Hinduja

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