Anti - Cyberbullying Campaign
ANTI - cyberBULLYING CAMPAIGN
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or cyber harassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. Cyberbullying and cyber harassment are also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced. Cyberbullying is when someone, typically a teenager, bullies or harasses others on the internet and in other digital spaces, particularly on social media sites. Harmful bullying behavior can include posting rumors, threats, sexual remarks, a victims' personal information, or pejorative labels (i.e. hate speech). Bullying or harassment can be identified by repeated behavior and an intent to harm. Victims of cyberbullying may experience lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of negative emotional responses including being scared, frustrated, angry, or depressed.
Did you realize that victims of cyber bullying are TWICE as likely to attempt suicide? What is the main reason why they're doing this? What is the cause of cyber bullying? The explanation why people participate in cyberbullying is unclear. Some people were inspired by revenge to participate in cyberbullying. Being bullied on a regular basis leads them to believe that bullying others is just normal and some people deserve to be bullied.
We will give you some of the testimonies, who were once a victim of cyberbullying.
Testimonies from cyberbullying victims
“She kept texting me so many mean things that I wanted to throw my phone against the wall. I told my mom and she called her. After that the mean girls texted me, wow you can’t fight your own battles!”
– 11-year-old from Michigan
“I get mean messages on Form spring, with people telling me I’m fat and ugly and stupid. I don’t know what I ever did to anyone. I wish it wasn’t anonymous.”
– 15-year-old from Illinois
A letter from a Cyberbullies victim said,
“At the beginning of my freshman year of high school, I set up a MySpace account. Shortly thereafter, someone got into my account and changed all of the headings, comments, and picture titles with nasty critiques of my looks or with the word SLUT! I was mortified. I think the person got my password from a computer at school after I, logged in and forgot to log off before leaving. Rather than report what had happened, I just deleted my account so that no one else would see my profile and what had been written about me. Later I learned to be more careful with my passwords and things. I never found out for sure who did it, but of course, I have suspicions. I'm pretty sure that I know who was responsible, but I can’t be quite sure. However, I think that it was my ex-boyfriend’s best friend (who was a girl). She had always been jealous of me, and we just never got along. We had known each other since elementary school. She was one grade older. I also knew her from playing softball. I don’t remember talking to anyone about it. I mostly just tried to forget about it and move on. I remember feeling a little uncomfortable at school for the next week or so, and I stayed offline for a long time. I waited at least a year or more before I made a new MySpace page. I was very cautious then and did not give any of my information to anyone so that the problem would not happen again. Overall, it was a horrible experience.”
There are some of the solutions that we think could help and lessen the gambit of cyberbullying.
1. Limit Personal Information That is Shared.
If someone doesn’t know your telephone number, address, or other personal information, then it becomes more difficult to take online bullying offline. One of the worst issues of cyberbullying is that it never stops. This can help to make it stop.
2. Talk to People.
By being aware of cyberbullying and initiating conversations about it, we can all work together to help recognize it and then eliminate it. Encourage children to discuss anything they find online that makes them uncomfortable. Parents – check on what kids are doing online and don’t just take their word for it. Kid – let your parents help. You don’t have to do this alone.
3. Never Go Somewhere to Meet a Person You’ve Met Online.
If you don’t know the person who wants to meet you, then don’t go meet them. This applies more to children than adults, but the advice still applies. The number of issues that people have encountered by using dating sites is similar to the overall statistics of cyberbullying.
4. Do Not Post Pictures of Your Body Online.
Any pictures that are uploaded to the internet should be appropriate and respectful of yourself and others. If you would be embarrassed if someone else outside of your friends, family, or intimate partners saw the photo, then it shouldn’t go online.
Be Respectful to Others.
Just because someone is being mean doesn’t give anyone the right to be equally mean. One of the easiest ways to stop cyberbullying is to permanently block those who might be trying to cause harm. This can be done by reporting emails, messages, or status updates to the platform that hosted the message in the first place. If you respond in kind to a cyberbully, you’re giving them the reaction they were wanting in the first place.
6. Never Give Out Your Password.
Even your best friends should not have your password, but your parents should if you’re a teen or younger. This isn’t because your parents want to invade your privacy. It is because they want to make sure you are safe. As for the parents: there must be an effort to develop a nurturing relationship that encourages kids and teens to discuss their concerns. More than half of all people see bullying happen at least once per week, but it is rarely reported to anyone.
7. Save Whatever Evidence You Have.
Back before the internet, the only evidence of bullying came either from eyewitnesses, a bruise, or a black eye. With cyberbullying, you have written evidence that can help to identify the perpetrator. Capture the words, pictures, video, or other content that has been posted. Save the IP address if you have it. Print out emails. Even if it is minor stuff, saving the evidence will help you be able to establish a pattern of harassment that can be used to make this behavior stop for good.
8. Stand Up and Say Something.
By saying nothing, we all empower bullies to keep doing what they are doing. Cyberbullies feel anonymous, but they are not. Even if you aren’t the target of a cyberbully, you may be able to report the behavior when you see it. This is something that we must all be willing to do, even if it seems scary at the time.
When we respond to bullying behaviors with a calm, logical reaction, we take the energy out of the experience for the bully. This may not stop the harassment right away, but it can over time. Walk away, block the bully, and speak with someone. That way you can empower yourself instead of letting the cyberbully have control over your life.
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