How To Keep Yourself Safe From Cyberbullying 

 

When we talk about Bullying, it's not just around the playground of your school or neighbourhood. Harassment and bullying can take place anywhere, even on the online platform. Several types of online bullying such as threats, gossips, insults, rumours etc can happen all the time and are considered as Cyberbullying in the common term. Cyberbullying can follow an individual through mediums like social media, emails, blogs and texts or any other forms of digital channels. Cyberbullying has become one of the biggest concerns and many young people nowadays are dealing with it. It would not be a surprise if you or anyone you know has become prey to cyberbullying in their life. 

 

What is Cyberbullying?

 

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that involves the use of technology to intimidate, hurt or humiliate someone while being physically away from them. Cyberbullying is also commonly called online bullying as it has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced.

 

What are the ways of Cyberbullying?

 

There are several ways of humiliating and harassing people online. Some of which are mentioned below:

 

1. Threatening someone cruelly through emails or messages.

 

2. Post embarrassing photos or comments targeting certain someone. 

 

3. Creating a website or a blog to make fun of someone.

 

4. Insulting someone by posting derogatory remarks on social media.

 

5. Making up fake accounts on social media just for the sake of ridiculing others.

 

6. Spreading secrets or rumours about people on social networking sites.

 

7. Harassing other players in online video games.

 

8. Secretly recording someone and sharing it on social media to make fun of.

 

These are a few common ways of Cyberbullying that people practice in today's world. However, there are other ways that perpetrators use to bully on online platforms.

 

Why is cyberbullying harmful to people?

 

Bullying in all forms are harmful and can prove to be extremely dangerous. Most of the times perpetrators cyberbully because it's easier. The person who cyber-bullies are often far away and not physically present around their target which means that they cannot observe the hurt they are causing with their naked eyes. It's easier because they can ignore the consequences of their ill behaviour and consider it as a harmless joke. 

 

Cyberbullying is more visible as it has a much larger audience than bullying face to face around just a group of mean people around. As in online platforms, there is a wider audience, the effect it causes is more satisfying to the perpetrators. For example, if someone posts something that your entire friend circle can see, it’s going to hurt more than if they’d said the same thing to you in person. 

 

Another reason Cyberbullying is extremely harmful is that you cannot escape from it easily. When we are being bullied physically, we have the option to be away from the perpetrator or in extreme cases move to a different city. As people nowadays do not travel or move around without phones, cyber-bullies can follow a person anywhere and anytime. Even your safe abode do not feel safe if you are a victim of Cyberbullying. 

 

How is Cyberbullying different from face to face bullying?

 

To avoid being prey to Cyberbullying in our day to day life, we first need to understand how Cyberbullying is different from bullying in general. It differs from face to face bullying in various ways. 

 

Cyberbullying can occur at any time and spread quickly. As it involves the internet, it can start at any moment in the least expected way. Since the internet connects people from all over the world, the tendency of spreading is higher and far more quickly than face to face bullying. A person's life is affected the most if he or she has become prey to Cyberbullying for a very long period in their life, sometimes leading to suicide and self-harm. 

 

Cyberbullying spread to a very large audience in comparison to face to face bullying. It just takes a few minutes to go an embarrassing picture of a victim go viral or being negatively judged and later receive hate for the same by thousands and thousands of people.

 

Cyberbullying is different and extremely harmful because it keeps non-erasable materials for a long time unless it is removed by the bullies themselves. It is easier to threaten people using photos and videos that are humiliating and can shatter the image of an individual in society.

Cyberbullying is hard to stop. As it follows a victim up all the time through social media, it is extremely hard to be stopped unless legal action is taken against the perpetrator. 

 

Are you a victim of Cyberbullying?

 

If you are someone who has been expressing Cyberbullying, it can hurt you and leave you feeling isolated and lonely. You will also be feeling humiliated, scared and deeply scared. Even if it takes time to fight and get yourself out of Cyberbullying, you do have the strength in yourself to overcome this. Understandably, Cyberbullying can follow one into their home making you feel inescapable but do not lose hope. There are steps to follow so that you protect yourself and feel safe on social media as well.

 

What to do?

 

If you’re experiencing cyberbullying, your instinct might be to react immediately but try to keep your calm. It’s important to take a breath and avoid responding right away and not pay any attention to the negativity. Instead of deleting the message or post, take a screenshot so you have a record of the harassment you went through. If you’ve received a harassing message on your phone or through social media, block the person who sent it right away. Block the person from every possible social media handles so that he or she cannot reach you easily. If things are going to the extreme level, try speaking to someone you trust to help you find solutions. Here are some tips for you that would help.

 

Think about how you feel

 

Do you need emotional support at the moment? Or someone to help you figure out what to do next? Someone, to help you talk to your school authority or the police and seek legal help? Be sure about what you should do in the initial stage of action against the Cyberbullying you are going through. Once you know what would be most helpful for you at the present, it’ll be easier for you to take further action.

 

Find the right person to talk to

 

It happens that the person you chose to speak about your problems or situation you are in doesn't end up being that much of a help to you. The first person you talk to might not be helpful. And if that is so, try to tell someone else. It can take a few tries before you find someone who can help you get out of it.

 

Talk about it with honesty

 

Try to be honest with the person you choose to speak about your situation. If you just need someone to listen, tell them that with honesty. If you’re not ready to report the cyberbullying yet, let them know and try to find other alternatives with the help of that person.

 

Ask for help

 

If you’re ready to report the harassment and need help in doing so, be very clear that this is what you want. Ask the person what they think about it and how you must take the first step. Learning about your school’s bullying prevention policy is a good place to start if you're a student.

 

Contact the police

 

If you’re being physically threatened or feel that your safety is in danger, or even if your mental health is being deeply affected, you can always seek legal help and report it to the police. Nowadays, every police station has certain sets of rules and punishments for cybercrime. Get yourself the help whenever you feel it's needed.

 

Help someone who is experiencing cyberbullying

 

Understandably, it's not always easy to help those who are experiencing Cyberbullying in their life. But you can always try. As a good wisher and someone who cares, you can help by being that friend in need. Reach out to your friend and ask how he or she is doing. Remind them that you are always there for them if they need a friend. Try to at least be the support system for your friend so that they do not feel lonely and weak.