Technology has undoubtedly brought many benefits to our lives. From enabling us to connect with loved ones across the world or providing us with labor saving conveniences at home or at work, its impact has revolutionized our current way of living. Unfortunately, however, technology can also be used for less attractive purposes. In our current age of social media and messaging platforms, the modern practice of cyberbullying has also arisen.
Cyberbullying refers to the use of digital devices to harass, threaten or humiliate others through repeated and unwanted negative behavior. This is typically done through social media posts, emails, text messages and other forms of online communication. In this article we will outline some of the ways to recognize if you or someone you know is being cyberbullied and steps they can take to address this issue effectively.
What Constitutes Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is a growing concern worldwide. According to recent statistics, over 40% of adult internet users in the U.S. report having been the victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime. This practice is even more pronounced among teenagers, as the cyberbullying victimization rate for middle and high school students reaches an all-time high. We have outlined the main forms cyberbullying can take below to help you recognize the signs:
- Impersonation: This involves the creation of fake accounts such as email accounts or social media profiles where the cyberbully takes on another person’s identity such as through ‘catfishing’. This is usually achieved by cloning or hacking a person’s account details and assuming their identity to spread false information or engage in abusive behavior online.
- Harassment: This includes sending hateful, rude, or offensive messages to another individual. Some of the ways this is typically done is through emails, text messages, or online forums.
- Sharing personal information: Cyberbullies will often share personal or sensitive information such as photographs or videos of another person without their consent or awareness. This includes the sharing of nude images or sexually explicit messages, or ‘sexts,’ to others or posting them online. If you have wondered ‘is it illegal to send unsolicited pictures?’ you can visit this site to find out more information.
How to Handle Cyberbullying
While not exclusively so, cyberbullying often occurs when our private information or account details fall into the wrong hands. To minimize the chances of this happening it is important to set up privacy controls on all online accounts and to think twice about the content your post online or share with others. If you are currently experiencing cyberbullying, the following steps can often help you address the issue and stop it in its tracks:
- Store evidence: Storing evidence of cyberbullying can help you report the matter to the necessary bodies. This includes taking screenshots or saving copies of any bullying text messages, social media posts or other forms of online messaging.
- Report the issue: By reporting the issue to the relevant site or online platforms, the administrators can take steps to prevent the bully from using their site, preventing them from targeting you through these means.
- Seek support: To cope with the psychological effects of cyberbullying it is advisable to seek support from a trained therapist to help you or a loved one work through any emotional distress caused from the experience.
By recognizing the signs of cyberbullying, effective steps can be taken to help eliminate this problem.
