The internet is filled with various forms of social media and ways of interacting with friends, family, and even newfound acquaintances. Some of the interactions can be pleasant, but not always will the tone be as anticipated. Cyberbullying is widespread and affects people of all ages, especially young adolescents that are more susceptible to the effects of bullying. Cyberbullying is not something to be admired or enjoyed; it is brutal by many definitions, and has many statistics to represent the damaging effects of it. Prevention of cyberbullying is necessary in order to avoid the likely negative effects that could alter someone’s life majorly.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic …show more content…
“I realized that bullying never has to do with you. It 's the bully who 's insecure” (Shay Mitchell). When bullying occurs, it commonly stems from a problem within the bully and has little to do with the victim. “Bullying is killing our kids. Being different is killing our kids and the kids who are bullying are dying inside. We have to save our kids whether they are bullied or they are bullying. They are all in pain” (Cat Cora). Bullying often happens due to depression and creates depression for the victim, as well. Some cyber bullies are victims of real-world bullying and go online to bully others in order to feel powerful. Others are bullies offline and want to extend their bullying to the online world. Additionally, some cyber bullies just want to show that they can do certain things online to show off (Bullying Statistics, 2013). These bullies can only be minors and teenagers; otherwise, it is considered cyber harassment or cyber stalking. Cyberbullying often happens more than once and occurs in many levels of severity. Cyberbullying includes leaving demeaning messages on someone’s Facebook (social bullying), uploading embarrassing photos, or spreading gossip or rumors over instant messaging and text messages. The damage is often psychological and leads to very real consequences, such as severe depression, self-harm, or even suicide. Victims of cyberbullying are more likely to use …show more content…
It can be prevented in many ways, and it is helpful to have parents play a role in stopping cyberbullying and the social bully. It is vital that parents pay attention to the behavior of their children and invite their confidences. If your child is a cyberbully, clear rules in regarding to internet behavior must be established, and a consequence for bad behavior is necessary, such as loss in computer time or losing accounts. Teaming up with school facilitators and other parents can help prevent cyberbullying, as well. Make sure your child knows they can come to you if they have a problem online. Even as a teenager yourself, you can watch out for cyberbullies, and let an adult know of the concern. If the cyberbullying involves an adult and it leads to cyber harassment or cyber stalking, law enforcement can get involved. It is usually possible to print the screen showing the offending action, and tracking the IP address is often possible. The IP address can lead to the computer in which the cyberbullying took place on, and this can prevent further cyberbullying. It is important that communities stand up against cyberbullying, teaching kids to treat each other with respect, and to realize that it is unacceptable when others are being harassed or hurt by a social bully (Bullying Statistics,