Cyberbullying:
Going Behind the Screen
Think back to when you
were just a child, walking through the halls of elementary or playing games on
the playground, everything seemed so innocent until that one day. That one day
when you saw someone else become the target of a bully. Maybe you were the
target or perhaps even the bully. Whichever it was, you knew that there would
be a time where it would all go away. Once you got home, you could feel at
peace because it’s not like the bully can walk right in your own house. But in
today’s growing world, is there a place like that? Practically wherever
children and teenagers are, there is technology with them that allows the bully
to torment from afar.
These are just a few of the commonly
used insults bullies use to make the victims feel inferior.
How
can one define cyberbullying?
How can you pinpoint a
definition for something that is having rising severe effects on children,
teens, friends, and family everywhere? One could do a search on the internet,
go through different dictionaries and other prints forms of media, or survey
random people and will rarely get the exact same answer. But they all circle around
the same meaning when you mix and match parts of each one. According to Internet Safety 101, cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm (i.e.,
harassing, humiliating, or threatening text or images) inflicted through the
Internet, interactive technologies, or mobile phones. There are multiple
tactics that can be involved in cyberbullying which has been categorized as
gossip, exclusion, impersonation, harassment, cyberstalking, flaming, outing
and trickery, and cyberthreats. Another definition from stopbullying.gov says cyberbullying is
bullying that takes place using electronic technology including devices and
equipment such as cell phones, computers and tablets as well as communication
tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples
can include, but are not limited to, mean text messages or emails, rumors sent
by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures,
videos, websites, or fake profiles.
The uprising popularity
of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter are not to
be of blame, but these online mediums has taken bullying to depths. The greater
possibilities generated from these forms of technology, have only enhanced the
scenarios of bullying.
What have studies shown?
Over 95% of teenagers use
social networking sites to communicate with peers. Similar conclusions have
been found in studies from the Harford count Examiner, i-SAFE
foundation, and the Cyberbullying Research Center. Over
80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it a very common medium
for bullies to reach their targets at all times. Over
half of adolescents and teen have been victims
of cyberbullying, while 10-20% experience bullying
online regularly. According to a study from March and April of 2007, students
who experienced cyberbullying, as both a victim and an offender, had
significantly lower self-esteem compared to
those who had little or no experience with cyberbullying (Patchin).
With the numbers being at such a high, what happens to the teenagers and adolescents who go through such painful victimization?
What effects can cyberbullying have?
Bullies are no longer limited to the school playground or
street. The different mediums of technology allow bullying to happen anywhere,
24 hours a day seven days a week. Cyberbullying is one of the latest ways technology is modifying the social lives of children at such a defenseless age to take on such insults. The anonymity of the Web and other wireless devices are used by bullies to take schoolyard bullying to the next step without any consequences ("Schoolyard E-Bullies).
There is a variety of effects on those being bullied, depending on the severity and individual differences overall in the tragic experience. But it is most common that those who are cyberbullied are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip or be unwilling to attend school, receive poor grades, have lower self-esteem, and have more health problems. According to KidsHealth, severe or chronic cyberbullying can also leave the victims with greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. In most of the publicized cases, it is passed this point where the victim has turned to suicide as what they see as their only escape.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council to here is a variety of emotions youth feel when they are cyberbullied that it can cause different reactions for the victim to take. Children and teenagers who are cyberbullied report feelings of anger, hurt, embarrassment, and being scared. Such emotions can give reason for a victim to react by seeking revenge on the bully, avoiding friends and activities, and even cyberbullying back.
There is a variety of effects on those being bullied, depending on the severity and individual differences overall in the tragic experience. But it is most common that those who are cyberbullied are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip or be unwilling to attend school, receive poor grades, have lower self-esteem, and have more health problems. According to KidsHealth, severe or chronic cyberbullying can also leave the victims with greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. In most of the publicized cases, it is passed this point where the victim has turned to suicide as what they see as their only escape.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council to here is a variety of emotions youth feel when they are cyberbullied that it can cause different reactions for the victim to take. Children and teenagers who are cyberbullied report feelings of anger, hurt, embarrassment, and being scared. Such emotions can give reason for a victim to react by seeking revenge on the bully, avoiding friends and activities, and even cyberbullying back.
This video is just one of thousands that people have posted on sites like YouTube. By searching topics such as "cyberbullying my story" or "cyberbullying real stories", you will get an abundance of choices to watch different real examples of how cyberbullying has affected people. These are ways the victims are able to share their story to the world and get their emotions out.
Real life examples
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Megan bought a crown for her
coming birthday. Image from
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| Image from TIME |
Phoebe Prince committed suicide on January 14, 2010 when
she was just 15 years old. She had just recently emigrated with her mother and
sister from Ireland and was a new student at South Hadley in Massachusetts. Like
all young teenage girls, she was focused on what to wear, how to fit in, and
adapting to a whole new culture and set of norms. But the other teenagers in
the high school did not make it any easier for her. They called her names like “whore”
and “Irish slut” and taunted her with insults and physical threats whenever
they got the chance. The five teenagers accused of carrying out a “three month
campaign” of bullying that resulted in Prince’s suicide have been sentenced.
Three of the teens received probation and community service hours, while two
only face probation.
How can children and teens get away from their online bullies when their home is not even form of protection? Parents are no longer able to count on seeing the former signs of bullying such as a black eye, bloody lip or nose, and torn clothing.
How can one prevent cyberbullying?
As adults, you can help to stop cyberbullying by
learning why it occurs and then by teaching the youth how to interact
positively in cyberspace. 81% of youth think
that others cyberbully because they think it’s funny. Too many of the younger
generations do not realize how serious the consequences can be and how much of
a negative impact cyberbullying can have on the victim, along with the rest of
his/her family and friends. That kind of attitude spreads and the effects of
cyberbullying will keep getting worse and worse. Parents or guardians need to
be aware of what their youth is doing online to make sure they are being safe
and responsible.
Also, cyberbullying safety tips say to make sure to encourage your child to talk to you if anything happens online
that makes them feel threatened, uncomfortable, or hurt emotionally. Keep this
communication line open and calm so they know they can count on you. Make sure
to keep contact information and passwords safe and hard for hackers to get
into. By not posting such information online, it will be harder to be used
against them. Remind the child that anything they post on their account or
website, people can see, and whomever they befriend could forward or use that
information. Do not just talk with your child about cyberbullying prevention
once. It is something that can occur at any time, so by continually talking to
them and keeping a close eye on what they do online there is a lesser chance of
cyberbullying. If bullying occurs online, use software to block the bullies if
through chat rooms or IM and use privacy settings on social networking sites.
An important thing to keep in mind is to not erase or delete message the child receives
from cyberbullies as evidence. This makes it easier to track down who is harassing
your child.
There
are many organizations online that provide an abundance of helpful advice and
tips to help prevent cyberbullying from starting and even how to deal with it
once it occurs. They provide previous examples that can help you decide what
your next step is to take and ways for you to get in touch though comment
postings.
By
first understanding what cyberbullying is, learning how it can affect the
society and individuals, taking into account tips on how to keep your child
safe, it is a start to preventing such a tragic and life-taking epidemic from intensifying.
You do not want your child to go through what so many children go through every
day that has led to them taking away their own life.
Notes
Note 1: Background Image borrowed from Teens Against Cyber Bullying.
Work Cited
Patchin,
Justin W., and Sameer Hinduja. "Cyberbullying And Self-Esteem." Journal
Of School Health 80.12 (2010): 614-621. Academic Search Elite. Web.
7 Apr. 2013.
"Schoolyard E-Bullies." Communications of the ACM 48.5 (2005): 9-10. Academic Search
Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2013.
Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2013.
