CYBERBULLYING

N A L A P O, A I J E E L E N E
V I L L A N U E VA , VA N E S S A M A E
•A social crime that is plaguing our
country today because of the influx of the
social media gadgets and other online
technology in the market.
• As reported by Emmanuel Tupas (2016), cases of
cyberbullying have increased by 70.74%. In 2016, the
Philippine National Police Anti Cybercrime Group
(ACG) said a total of 782 cases were reported to
the ACG. This is higher than 498, an increase of
60.12% compared to the previous year’s 311 cases.
• Online threat increased by 96.22%, 106 cases in
2015 to 208 in 2016. Cases of unjust vexation
spiked by 39.39% from 33 in 2015 to 46 in 2016
• A study over 3,000 students, one researcher found
that 38% of the bully victims felt vengeful, 37% were
angry, and 24% felt helpless.
 CYBERBULLYING IS EVEN MORE HARMFUL TO
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT FACE-TO-FACE BULLYING
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:
• Permanence: The insults, comments or images can be
preserved by the person who was bullied or by others so
that the victim may read or view them over and over
again and the harm is re-inflicted with each reading or
viewing.
• Audience size: The size of the audience that is able to
view or access the damaging material increases the
victim’s humiliation.
• Social Networking: Social networking sites such as
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and MySpace allows cyber
bullies to engage in campaigns against a particular
person which may involve many others.
• Speed: The speed at which harmful messages can
reach large audience also plays a major part in making
cyberbullying so damaging to the targets.
• Familiarity: Many young people are friends with or
know their cyber bully either through school or other
personal connections, increasing the potential for
embarrassment and humiliation.
 EFFECTS OF CYBERBULLYING
 Feeling alone and isolated. Cyberbullying sometimes causes teens to be excluded
and ostracized at school. This experience is particularly painful because friends are
crucial at this age. When kids don’t have friends, this can lead to more bullying. What's
more, when cyberbullying occurs, most people recommend shutting off the computer
or turning off the cell phone. But, for teens this often means cutting off communication
with their world. Their phones and their computers are one of the most important
ways they communicate with others. If that option for communication is removed, they
can feel secluded and cut off from their world.
 Feeling disinterested in school. Cyberbullying victims often have much higher
rates of absenteeism at school than non-bullied kids. They skip school to avoid facing
the kids bullying them or because they are embarrassed and humiliated by the
messages that were shared. Their grades suffer too because they find it difficult to
concentrate or study because of the anxiety and stress the bullying causes. And in
some cases, kids will either drop out of school or lose interest in continuing their
education after high school.
 Feeling anxious and depressed. Victims of cyberbullying often succumb to anxiety,
depression and other stress-related conditions. This occurs primarily because
cyberbullying erodes their self-confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, the added stress
of coping with cyberbullying on a regular basis erodes their feelings of happiness and
contentment.
 Feeling ill. When kids are cyberbullied, they often experience headaches, stomach
aches or other physical ailments. The stress of bullying also can cause stress-related
conditions like stomach ulcers and skin conditions. Additionally, kids who are
cyberbullied may experience changes in eating habits like skipping meals or binge eating.
And their sleep patterns may be impacted. They may suffer from insomnia, sleep more
than usual or experience nightmares.
 Feel suicidal. Cyberbullying increases the risk of suicide. Kids that are constantly
tormented by peers through text messages, instant messaging, social media and other
outlets, often begin to feel hopeless. They may even begin to feel like the only way to
escape the pain is through suicide. As a result, they may fantasize about ending their life
in order to escape their tormentors. If your child is being cyberbullied, do not dismiss
their feelings. Be sure you communicate daily, take steps to help end the torment and
keep close tabs on changes in mood and behaviour. Get your child evaluated by a health
care professional if notice any personality changes at all.
 SOLUTIONS FOR CYBERBULLYING
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.
 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.
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.
 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.
 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.
 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 behaviour stop for good.
 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 behaviour 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 behaviours 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.