The use of electronic communication to harass, threaten, or humiliate someone is known as cyberbullying. Sending hurtful texts or emails, posting hurtful messages on social media sites, or spreading rumors online are examples of this. Cyberbullying can be extremely harmful to teenagers, leading to depression, anxiety, and, in some cases, suicide.
It’s a serious problem that’s become more prevalent in recent years. Cyberbullying can have devastating consequences for both those who are bullied and those who witness it. Many statistical reports show that the effect of cyberbullying is among teenagers than adults.
How does cyberbullying appear?
Cyberbullying among teenagers takes many forms, but the following are the most common:
- Receiving intentionally hurtful text messages, emails, or social media direct messages
- First, People spread false information about someone on the internet
- Second, People sending humiliating or embarrassing images or videos to others
- People making threats to others
- To embarrass or intimidate someone, people create and use fake online profiles.
Online bullying of teenagers
Teenagers are increasingly engaging in cyberbullying. According to the Pew Research Center study, the percentage of teenagers who have been victims of cyberbullying has increased in recent years because more teenagers are using smartphones and social media sites, which are becoming popular among this age group.
They do not only face online bullying but they most likely become prone to conditions of mental illness such as depression and anxiety.
Some of the psychological effects of cyberbullying;
1-Cyberbullying victims may feel a variety of negative emotions, including pain and grief, frustration, anxiety, and utter humiliation. They might even feel all alone and disconnected.
2-As you can see, cyberbullying has many negative consequences for teenagers. The victims might well have cognitive and emotional issues, and the abusers may also have these issues.
3-Cyberbullying has more than behavioral and mental consequences. Physical effects are also possible. Cyberbullying can cause physical problems such as insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, and unhealthy eating habits.
4-Nervousness, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation are some of the psychological effects.
5-Cyberbullying can also affect the victim’s academic performance. Victims may have difficulty concentrating in lectures and may refuse to attend their classes which ultimately results in a lower grade.
6-Cyberbullying victims may have difficulty forming relationships with others. They might be hesitant to trust others and avoid social situations.
7-They tend to be more angry than usual, speak less, like to be in their thoughts, express dark thoughts and emotions, and lose interest in activities that they normally enjoy.
Lets us know some of the statistics of cyberstalking on teens
Statistics
1-Cyberbullying on social media has been witnessed by more than half of teens.
2-Online bullying has been witnessed by 54 percent of the teens polled.
- 39% of Facebook users
- On YouTube, 29 percent
- 22% of Twitter users
- 22% of Instagram users
3-60% of teens who admit to being bullied online have told an adult about it; compared to 40 percent last year.
4-Instagram has the highest rate of cyberbullying among teenagers, at 42 percent, with Facebook coming in second at 37 percent. Snapchat came in third with 31% of the vote.
5-Even though survey participants use YouTube more than any other platform, it was only responsible for 10% of the reported cyberbullying.
6-Cyberstalking or harassment was reported by 17% of Internet users in Australia between the ages of 15 and 29.
Tips for Teens Who Have Been Bullied Online
There are some things you can do to help yourself if you’re a teenager who has been a victim of cyberbullying.
- A-Discuss your concerns with someone you can trust. A parent, friend, teacher, or counselor could be this person.
- B-Keep track of any cyberbullying evidence. This includes screenshots of messages, emails, and social media posts sent to you.
- C-Make it impossible for the bully to contact you. This can be done through social media and messaging apps.
- D-Cyberbullying should be reported to the website or app where it occurred.
- E-Inform your parents or guardians of the situation. They might be able to assist you in stopping the bullying.
- F-If you’re feeling overwhelmed or suicidal, seek professional help. There are many online professionals available who can help you with your problems, and share with them. Please do not hesitate to reach out for help, it is normal for you to feel this way but it is not okay to stay with the same feeling.
Cyberbullying is when harassment and intimidation are done online. Cyberbullying is a difficult type of bullying to manage because it can be hard to control and easily visible to large numbers of people. Your child is likely to spend a lot of their time online. It’s important that you are aware of what to do if your child displays inappropriate online behavior. Find out what cyberbullying looks like, how it affects young people, and how you can help your child deal with it.
If you are:
- Want to learn more about cyberbullying?
- You think that your child might be involved in cyberbullying?
- Want to learn more?
What is cyberbullying?
Although we don’t know the reasons why cyberbullying occurs, what we do know about cyberbullying is that it is the intentional, persistent, and malicious use of images or words in an online environment to cause harm to someone. Kids Helpline research has shown that cyberbullying occurs at any age, but most often in the transition years between high school and primary school. However, it can also occur during the teenage years so it is important to be aware.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying among teens can take many forms, but these are the most prevalent:
- Intentionally offensive messages, emails, and direct messages sent via social media sites include text messages, emails, or messages in an email.
- Online gossip and lies can be spread about people by spreading rumors.
- People send videos or images to humiliate or embarrass another person.
- And People send threats to someone
- So People create fake profiles online to intimidate or embarrass someone.
What makes it different from other forms of bullying, you ask?
Bullying is an act that is intended to cause harm. Cyberbullying is a more serious form of bullying due to its uncontrollable and public nature. Take this example:
- There are no restrictions on who can view and take part in cyberbullying
- It can be difficult to delete content that has been shared online
- Bullies can remain anonymous
- Search engines can help you find content
People can’t escape bullying, especially when they use technology every day. Because of the nature and anonymity of the internet, young people may bully others online more than in real life.
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