WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CYBER-BULLYING?
As in this age of technology and online shifting platforms where almost everything we deal in life is either directly or indirectly related to internet resources so we often wonder how can we potentially dig deep into cyberbullying to clearly get a mental picture of what it is and what it does to a person so in order to fulfill that gap we define cyberbullying as the excessive and unsecured exposure of an individual to the malicious and vicious behvaiour of pessimists, socially through online platforms using digital technological devices either in the form of mobile phones or laptops while operating social media for entertainment like gaming, texting or doing online shows etc .
It can be done with the intent of revenge, silly jokes or just for satisfaction of one’s inner desires by hurting others emotionally either in the forms of threats, abuse or disrespecting the privacy.
The common behavior associated with it includes:
- Lying about personality of an individual by photoshoping or spreading personal content hence breaking the privacy.
- Abusing someone online with threats or sending horrific views to create insecurities.
- Going over the line by invading personal space by constantly stalking an individual’s activities and impersonating them for personal benefits.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CYBERBYLLYING ON QUALITY OF LIFE?
The abuse brought about by it contains drastic effects not only on the psychological aspects of an individual but also their work place and personal relationships. A person may become so distorted that he/she may collapse by the burden it brings upon him/ her if no lending kind hand is there for them to reach out to. A person may feel attacked and trapped in worst possible scenarios with no escape what so ever.
Main effects caused by cyberbullyimg:
- Psychological damage leads to feeling scared, lonely, depressed or aggressive behvaiour in extreme extent it can lead to suicide attempts or murdering intents for your abuser.
- Emotional abuse leads to loss of natural optimistic activities and healthy behvaiour
- Physical health deterioration leads to excessive fatigue, hyper/hypersomnia, decrease in hunger, weight loss and disturbed bowel movements
HOW TO IDENTIFY CYBERBULLYING?
The difference between laughing at and laughing with creates a first and major red flag when you are considering cyber bullying. The approach of a person either in the form of your friends or an unknown face is the 1st hallmark for you, for example if you notice that someone creates big fuss over small things about you and have petty behaviour over it or a person is constantly coming to your mind when regarding a rumor that should be your initial instinct to create a safe distance from that person whose behavior clearly defines to have a malicious intent which can create a vicious cycle of bad things coming your way.
Often bullying taking place online is in the form of stalking or gossips, a stalker may know about each and every time you make an activity online, will also try to get into your personal information and if gets a hold on it will try to threaten you for his/ her personal objectives. Some people may go so far in taking revenge that they may leak your personal photos or secret documents publically so that you may fail in life.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN FOR THE PREVENTION OF CYBE-BULLYING?
- Creating Privacy: any person of any age gender or race should know about the importance of it, how to create passwords and to use secured online sites and to create security backups if you are dealing with social platforms.
- Stranger danger: teach children to stay aware from unknown people especially the notorious ones known for their behaviors, always consider the factors like age gaps, interests, personal preferences and if any sort of blackmailing is brought about it try to get immediate help by asking your guardians or cyber bullying online helpers.
- The dangers of social media: Teach children to stay away from sites like dark web, or any kind of shows involving requirements about their personal information like pictures and financial data. Teach children to limit their use and stay away from silly things like gaming sites requiring explicit things which can ruin their health or social status in future. Stay away from attention seeking sources, do no share personal information just for the sake of entertainment of any kind or for anyone.
Seeking online help: children and adults should know about online sources as well as local helping centers for cyber bullying making on time and immediate interactions with the professionals in time of danger or red flags. Teach children to ask for help when in need either through their teachers, parents or responsible figures around them