Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is hurtful. It is someone’s need to feel superior over others by making them feel
bad about themselves or their circumstance using the internet and it’s tools. Sending mean text,
messages, posting pictures that are hurtful, or just spreading rumors on social media are all forms
of cyberbullying. The cyberbully will attack his/her chosen victim repeatedly until he/she is
taught online etiquette, stopped by an outside source, or the victim acquiesce to the bully’s
desired end.
Some of the effects of cyberbullying are victims become depressed, anxious and stressed out.
Also, the cyberbullies themselves are more likely to suffer from the same symptoms as their
victims. The cyberbullies and their victims are at a greater risk of having suicidal thoughts,
attempting suicide, and successfully committing suicide.
There are many ways that we, teachers, students, parents and counselors can do to prevent
cyberbullying. Set understandable rules and policies to prevent cyberbullying of others. We need
to educate our students, our children and ourselves about cyber bullying and the effect it has on
the victim and the bully. Supervise and monitor students and our children while they use
technology that gives them access to other people on the internet or via cell phones. Research the
procedures for reporting cyberbullying or the abuse of technology. Teach students and your
children to understand the online privacy policies, ethical behavior, digital footprints, and how
our virtual lives are not private by any means. Once it hits the internet, it’s there forever.
Students can help control cyberbullying amongst their peers and in school by refusing to be a
link in the gossip chain by passing on cyberbullying messages. Tell your friends to stop
cyberbullying when you become aware of them doing so. Let them know you see what they are
doing and inform them how it is hurting yourself or someone else. Blocking cyberbullies from
being able to access them by any form of technology such as Facebook, Messenger, text
messages, and other online sources of communications. And most of all, report cyberbullying,
when they see or hear it happen, to an adult that they trust like a teacher, counselor, parent, or
even the administrator of the platform of the cyberbullying.