A Problem All too Common: Cyberbullying

By: Jackson Quarles

Traditional face-to-face bullying has long been identified as one of the highest risk factors for social and emotional mental health. Throughout recent years, studies have shown an increase in cyberbullying and the effect it has on humans, even long after it has ended. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices such as cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through texting and online in social media. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else without their consent.

The main goal of cyberbullying includes sharing personal or private information about someone else to cause embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. Just like any other victim of bullying, those who are cyberbullied experience fear, anxiety, depression, and low-self esteem. When bullying happens online, it can feel as if you’re being targeted by all at all times. It often feels as if there is no escape.

Social media is huge in America. This being the case, most bullies take to social media to cause their victims harm. Name-calling, spreading gossip, and circulating pictures are common forms of bullying. The effects of cyberbullying are in many ways worse than traditional face-to-face bullying. Although most people experienced cyberbullying in their teen or young adult years, victims of cyberbullying can have lasting emotional effects that last lifelong. Being bullied can lead to a lifetime of low self-esteem. This has been linked to causing chronic fatigue, insomnia, and poor performance and motivation in school or at work. The long-term effects of cyberbullying can become life-threatening problems. 20% of cyberbullying victims report having suicidal thoughts; some even result in suicide.

As of January 2020, 44% of adults reported experiencing some sort of online abuse. 37% of Americans experienced Offensive Name-Calling. 28% of Americans experienced Purposeful Embarrassment. 28% of Americans experienced Severe Harassment. 15% of Americans received Physical Threats. 12% of Americans experienced Sexual Harassment. 12% of Americans experienced Stalking. We can not continue to be silent about the bullying and cyberbullying taking place in America today.

If you are suffering as a victim of Cyberbullying there are a set of Golden Rules:

1. Don’t retaliate: Resist the temptation to defend yourself. This is exactly what the bully wants you to do, bullies look for a response, look for a way to block or mute them on whatever platform you are on.

2. Tell Someone: Talk to someone that you trust. This could be a friend, teacher, family member, or any trusted adult.

3. Privacy and Security: Check all your online accounts to ensure your security and privacy setting are what you want them to be. Now, most social media allows you to choose who you want to interact with and who you don’t want to interact with.

4. Support Others: If you know a friend who is being bullied online, let them know it is not their fault and that you are here to support them. Don’t jump in and defend your friend, even though there will be a temptation. Just support them through these tough times.

Any type of bullying should not be allowed. But, some people still choose to tear others down. My advice? Encourage everyone, give everyone hope, make everyone feel loved. During these tough times, we should be coming together as one to uplift and love one another. Cyberbullying, as well as any type of bullying, can have a long-term effect on anyone who endures it. We must not sit still and watch the bullying taking place on social media sites in America today. Hopefully, through education and awareness, we can help to educate everyone about cyberbullying and encourage more open dialogue that will enable victims to access the support they need. Remember, if we love everyone and be the light, there will be no place for bullying or the impacts it brings.