The Consequences And Effects Of Cyberbullying

Many schools and communities have taken actions to prevent bullying from occurring. They have teamed up with the local media outlets to run stories on the effects of being bullied and what the consequences of a being a bully are. Some schools have created programs for students who are at risk for being a bully due to feeling out of place and not having the social skills to form friendships. They have trained student leaders that go into the student body and befriend the students that are socially struggling. By having a friend and helping them adjust to school, they have reduced the likelihood that those students will become bullies. At Meadville Area Senior High School, the faculty and staff teamed up with student leaders to help students who show signs of …show more content…
Cyberbullying is to bully online by sending or posting mean messages, usually anonymously. Cyberbullying is becoming the popular style of bullying since the bully is able to bully from home, without conflict, and hidden behind a screen. Cyberbullying tends to take the “physical work” out of bullying. Being bullied online has the same effects as being bullied in person; Cyberbullying can lower self-esteem, increase depression and produce feelings of powerlessness. The world has transitioned into the era of the digital age which has made bullying much easier. Now bullies are able to type a message or post a picture and within a few minutes hundreds or even thousands of people have seen or read what was posted. The victims may not know that they were attacked for hours or even days until they see the post, some may never even know. With nearly 95% of teens aged 12--17 online and 80% of those teens being users of social media (Pew Research Center’s Internet Project, 2011), the prevention of the cyberbullying and the positive impact of the media are now more important than ever