Effects of Cyberbullying | Understanding and Combatting Online Harassment

Last updated on July 13th, 2024 at 01:34 am

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In today’s world, where computing devices abound, computer misuse and, in particular, the effects of cyberbullying have become a cause for concern.

People use their computers to target others indiscriminately without comprehending the social and legal ramifications of their actions.

What makes it more worrisome is the fact that many users are unaware of how their actions affect others or how to deal with cyberattacks.

Cyberbullying (internet bullying, digital abuse, or online intimidation) is just one way a computing device can be misused. Some others include identity theft, phishing attacks, copyright infringement, exposure to obscene materials, and more.

In this article, we will explore the following:

  • What cyberbullying is;
  • The effects of cyberbullying on mental health;
  • Methods used to prevent cyberbullying;
  • Effects of cyberbullying on different age groups;
  • Influence of Technology on Cyberbullying;
  • Methods used to prevent cyberbullying; and
  • Cyberbullying and social media.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying or online intimidation is where you use social media and other communication platforms, such as emails and chat rooms, to intimidate, harass, or harm others. Some examples of cyberbullying include:

  • Taking videos of persons in a compromising position and posting them to social media without their consent;
  • Spreading rumors online; or
  • Using your computing devices to send harmful texts.

Are you interested in learning more about issues associated with computer misuse? Be sure to visit Identity Theft.

The effects of online bullying on mental health

Online bullying is illegal in most countries. However, it also has several effects on the mental health of those who are targeted as well. Some of the psychological ramifications of digital bullying include the following:

  • Anxiety;
  • Depression;
  • Mood swings;
  • Stress;
  • Low self-esteem;
  • Suicidal tendencies; and
  • Loneliness.

Methods that you can use to prevent online harassment

While preventing online harassment is not completely under your control, you have the ability to prevent it and deal with its effects through education and legal measures.

  • Educate yourself: Learn what cyberbullying is, how to recognize it, and how to protect yourself from it. Additionally, you need to ensure you know what cyberbullying is so that you do not become a part of the problem.
  • Keep your password confidential: Keep your password as confidential as you can. Don’t share it with anyone to prevent it from getting out.
  • Keep photos PG: Ensure that the images you share online are decent to avoid potential misuse or bullying. Additionally, avoid taking photos that you do not wish the public to see. That way, if someone ever hacks your system, they will not be able to use the images against you.
  • Refuse to respond: People who bully you on social media are usually more successful when you respond to their comments. However, if you do this, the situation will escalate further. By not responding, people realize that you don’t care about what they say, so they will not pursue the matter further.
  • Report offensive content: If we normalize reporting offensive content, it can be very helpful. This is because some websites take action against cyberbullies immediately after the report is sent out as long as the report is valid.
  • Raise awareness: Educate others about online intimidation and its effects. Let everyone know the negative impact it can have. This may inspire them to help spread the message and make it known to the rest of the world. It may also make them think twice about bullying others in this manner.
  • Speak up: Take matters into your own hands and report when there is a case of cyberbullying. If possible, you can step in and protect the person being bullied or teach the bully the consequences their actions can have on the victim.

The effects of cyberbullying on different age groups

Internet bullying, regardless of the age group, can have a negative impact on all individuals related to it; here is an example of how it affects people of different age groups:

  • Children and adolescents: Internet bullying can have a serious impact on the lives of children; it can cause depression and stress-related conditions, which have a severe impact on their mental health.
  • Teens and young adults: We can find more severe cases of cyberbullying among teens and young adults. It causes depression, anxiety, and stress, and most oftentimes, it can lead to suicide.

Regardless of age, cyber harassment has an impact on individuals, causing mental and physical distress and leading to long-term consequences.

How technological advancement influences digital abuse

  • Increase access to technology: Cyberbullying has become increasingly prominent now that technology and software have evolved to the extent that they have. The leading equipment used for this is smartphones and social media, as they have many more lanes for cyberbullying to occur. This is because this type of bullying depends on the anonymity users believe these platforms offer.
  • Ease of bullying through technology: The internet provides several platforms that have been useful in sending and receiving messages, uploading videos, images, etc. The platforms that allow those functions are the very same ones that individuals use for cyberbullying.
  • Legal protection: It can be challenging for the victims of cyberbullying, especially those in the sexual minority, to seek legal protection against cyberbullies, which shows the need for education and improvement in legislation.

Digital abuse and social media

We may as well call digital abuse social media bullying. This is because cyberbullying and social media have been a closely-knit pair from the start. Social media platforms are the places where cyberbullying usually takes place. This has been linked to the obsession of people who are addicted to social media. They usually spend long hours on it, gaming or doing other activities.