Effects of Bullying

 

            The Problems of Cyber Bullying

Today the internet is as big as ever. Weather you like it or not, you probably use the internet on a day-to-day basis. 

The same is true for young children who are still in school. They use the internet and forms of social media every day.

 There are multiple forms of social media that are meant to connect today’s youth, however sometimes these platforms can be used in a harmful way.

 Today cyberbullying is a big issue among today’s youth and has a negative effect on them mentally and academically.

First, we have to know what cyber bullying is to talks about its effects. According to the article Law Enforcements Reminder: The Negative Effects of Cyberbullying, Andrea Grossman writes, “Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology.” 

The article goes on to say that cyberbullying is different to regular bullying in that the child is still bullied long after they have returned from school to the safety of their own home.

 Grossman goes on to talk about how the anonymity of cyberbullying makes it that much more dangerous as well.

 “When a child is bullied at school or on the playground, he knows who his bully is.  The “anonymity” associated with cyberbullying often leaves the victim feeling like he/she has no recourse.” 

This type of bullying can have serious effects on the way that a child performs in school as well. In the article Pennsylvania Women Accused of Using Deepfake Technology to Harass  Cheerleaders, Christina Morales talks about a story of high school cheerleaders being cyberbullied. 

The situation started with three cheerleaders being harassed over text. Morales goes on to talk about what was sent to the cheerleaders. 

“Some of the anonymous messages contained doctored images and videos that attempted to incriminate the teenagers with fake depictions showing some of them nude, drinking alcohol or vaping. At times, the text messages took an even darker turn, telling at least one girl to die by suicide.” 

Morales goes on to say that the incident was later reported to the police and they were eventually able to find the person responsible for the messages. 

“In an arrest affidavit, the Hilltown Township Police Department in Bucks County accused Raffaela Marie Spone, 50, of cyberbullying three teenagers she knew at the Victory Vipers cheerleading gym in Doylestown, Pa., about 35 miles north of Philadelphia.” 

These actions had negative effects on the child and made the family’s feel as if the schools were not a safe space for the children. Andrea Grossman states in her article that cyberbullying can lead to truancy for a child. 

“Truancy is quite common when a victim is continually bullied both in-person and through technology.” This then leads to other things to suffer such as their grades. 

There are many examples of this cyber bullying taking place in schools. However, cyberbullying can have a negative effect on children outside of school as well.

Cyberbullying can have a negative mental effect on a child. Young children and even high schoolers are not fully developed when they are given access to social media. 

They are more susceptible to things such as peer pressure and depression stemming from sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat.  

In the article What are the Effects of Cyber Bullying?, Eric C. Alcera talks about the multiple different side effects. Children who are being cyber bullied may “Avoid talking to friends or socializing, say things about life being meaningless or talk about suicide, and lose interest in activities that previously gave them joy.”

 However, some people may argue that social media has its benefits and is an important way for children to connect with one another.

Many people argue that social media is an important way for children to socialize. This may be true; however, it is only effective when it is being monitored and is being used in the correct manner.

 In the article The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers, Suren Ramasubbu talks about this topic. 

“While social networking undoubtedly plays a vital role in broadening social connections and learning technical skills, its risks cannot be overlooked. The lack or difficulty in self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure makes adolescents vulnerable to such evils as Facebook depression, sexting, and cyberbullying, which are realistic threats.” 

This calls for parents and other guardians of the children to make sure they are paying attention to what their children are doing and experiencing on social media. Ramasubbu goes on to state that “Adolescence is the time to spread wings and take the tentative first flight out into the world, and parents and caregivers must be part of the process.”

As you can see, cyberbullying is a threat to today’s youth and has mental and academic effects on the children it effects. 

There are many examples of this with stories coming up all the time of children being bullied in school and at home. There have also been many studies done to show the effects it has. 

 In any case, cyberbullying is an ever present threat to todays children and must be stopped.