Cyberbullying and Mental Health: How to Protect Yourself
Cyberbullying is a growing issue in today’s society. It is enabled by digital technologies and has far-reaching consequences for those affected.
Cyberbullying can take many forms — from spreading lies to sending hurtful messages or even impersonating people online. One disheartening aspect of cyberbullying is the seemingly permanent impact it leaves.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, taking the right steps in dealing with the situation can go a long way toward helping victims of cyberbullying.
How to Stand Up to Online Bullies
Knowing the disastrous effects of cyberbullying on mental health, it is important to understand how we can help those who are being targeted.
There are steps we can take such as blocking and reporting the bully, or not engaging if they come across us in comment sections or chats. It is also important to let a person being cyberbullied know that they are not alone and support them in any way possible.
Unfortunately, this behavior has been so pervasive that social media companies have yet to find a way to completely eliminate it. Despite this reality though, each of us still has the power to make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering from online bullying.
Set Up Safety Measures
According to statistics, 20% of children have been cyberbullied. Perhaps the best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of cyberbullying is to take a proactive approach.
Invoke your personal safety settings on whatever app you’re using and, if possible, reach out to friends for peer support when you feel stressed.
While there is no surefire way to prevent cyberbullying completely, you can use top VPN services as additional layers of protection. For instance, if you opt for Netflix VPN, your IP address and personal information will remain secure — making it much harder for bullies and attackers to access your data.
As an additional perk, you’ll enjoy enhanced privacy when you are browsing the web or participating in online activities.
Making sure your privacy settings are up-to-date is essential in keeping hackers at bay.
Additionally, it’s beneficial to have an alternative method of communication – like a group messenger app or video conferencing system – that allows family and friends to stay connected while protecting sensitive information.
Taking solid steps to protect yourself can give you peace of mind and help prevent cyberbullying from escalating.
Don’t Respond to Attacks
It’s natural to want to rush to the defense of a friend when tragedy strikes, but when it comes to an unfortunate incident such as online harassment, it is better for all involved if you can resist that impulse.
Getting into an argument or heated debate in an online comment section won’t do your friend any favors — in fact, it may cause more harm than good.
Social media platforms are designed so that engaging posts will be pushed further up user feeds and continue to receive attention and engagement.
You could unintentionally help bring the poster of the damaging message even more attention, prolonging their abuse and increasing the overall impact on your friend.
Instead, offer emotional support privately off-platform and try to raise awareness by taking screenshots or sharing helpful resources with your circle of friends.
Report Abuse and Harassment
Only 1 in 10 teens tell their parents about cyberbullying. If you’re faced with cyberbullying-related content, one of the most proactive steps you can take is to report it.
By gathering a group of friends and having everyone report the post at the same time you can trigger quicker action by social media moderators. Increased reporting will send a clear message that this type of behavior is not tolerated and should be discouraged.
Being digitally responsible does not stop at reporting, however. If you are wondering how to prevent such behavior, you can practice positivity online. As we spread kindness and goodwill on our own channels, we can attract like-minded users to follow and engage on our accounts.
Practicing what you preach is also very powerful in setting a good example for others to follow — think how much better our online platforms would be if instead of writing negative or trolling comments, people encouraged each other with kind words!
Types of Online Bullying
Cyberbullying involves multiple forms of targeting people, including sending mean texts and accessing someone’s social networking profile. It can also include using rude words toward other people, disclosing personal information, or spreading rumors about people online.
Cyberbullying damages the emotional well-being of its victims and the relationship between peers. Everyone should be aware of the dangers of online cyberbullying and do their best to avoid it both intentionally and unintentionally.
How Does It Impact Mental Health?
Cyberbullying is an incredibly insidious and powerful form of bullying that often has devastating consequences for the victims. It can not only cause immediate harm, but it can also create issues that last far beyond the span of the bullying.
Mental health issues, increased stress and anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem are known to be a result of cyberbullying. In extreme cases, it may even trigger more intense responses in some individuals such as acting out violently.
Unfortunately, these long-lasting effects on mental health exist despite the fact that the bullying may have stopped. This is why taking steps against cyberbullying is so important, both for those currently being bullied, and those who will be in the future.
Taking a stand against bullying can help create positive change, both by providing support and resources to those affected and by setting an example for others that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
By understanding how vulnerable people can be when it comes to cyberbullying, we can take steps to protect ourselves and our friends from falling victim to this terrible form of bullying.
