A growing threat for teens
By: Omisaol Senior, Lewis Ngirkelau, Alina Ryen, Tituai Kazuyuki, Uodelchad Tangelbad and Rosang Masang
Cyberbullying, the use of electronic communication to bully a person, particularly by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature, is a growing problem for teenagers. It can occur through text messages, social media posts, online forums, or gaming platforms.
Identifying cyberbullying can be difficult, but some warning signs exist. These include repeated hurtful messages, social isolation, online rumors or gossip, and impersonation of the victim. Victims of cyberbullying may also experience emotional distress, physical problems, and academic difficulties.
Cyberbullying can happen anytime and anywhere with an internet connection. While traditional, in-person is still prevalent, statistics from the Cyberbullying Research Center indicate that 1 in 4 teenagers have been victims of cyberbullying and around 1 in 6 have engaged in it themselves. Roughly 1 in 5 teens, or those between the ages of 9 and 12, have experienced cyberbullying. Some measures that can be taken to prevent cyberbullying are setting social accounts to private, setting a strong password, raising awareness, avoiding sharing personal identification, and last but not least, reporting cyberbullies and fully disengaging. Nowadays, people’s personal photos or information is displayed online without their own consent. Instead of the victim disengaging, they post the bully’s information as a “get back,” which only repeats the cycle of cyberbullying. Thus, the best option a victim should take is to report cyberbullying, disengage, and confide in a trusted friend, family, or adult.
Teenagers can take steps to protect themselves from cyberbullying. These include setting strong passwords and privacy settings on social media accounts, avoiding sharing personal information online, and reporting cyberbullying to trusted adults or platform administrators. It’s important for victims to disengage from cyberbullies and not respond to their messages.
If you see someone being cyberbullied, the best course of action is to offer support and encourage them to report the abuse. By working together, we can create a safer online environment for everyone.