School Bullying 4: Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a new type of bullying that arose with the introduction of email, texting, and social networks like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

According to StopBullying.gov, cyberbullying includes:

• Sending hurtful, rude, or mean text messages
• Spreading rumors or lies about others by email or on social networks
• Creating websites, videos, or profiles that embarrass, humiliate, or mock others

Cyberbullying can happen at any hour of the day or night. It does not require the bully and their victim to interact in the physical world.

Sometimes, the bully acts anonymously, leaving the victim wondering who is attacking them. Mean messages can be sent repeatedly, and even automated, to harass the victim.

Because of this, victims of cyberbullying often feel there is no safe escape, and they worry their reputation is being ruined.

Understanding the Cyberbully

The first thing to remember is that cyberbullies are cowards. They strike from a distance, and those who hide behind anonymous profiles are the biggest cowards of all.

Even on this blog, people occasionally want to post mean messages in response to my articles. They do not want to discuss a difference of opinion. They just want to insult me and move on.

In the internet world, these people are called trolls (people who post inflammatory or off-topic messages online to upset others). Most creators simply ignore them. Trolls have nothing good to contribute to the conversation.

Dealing with an attacker who is targeting you both in school and online is incredibly difficult. Victims may not want to go to school because they fear how others will respond to the online attacks.

Actionable Steps to Handle Cyberbullying

As with bullies in the physical world, there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself:

1. Don’t start the bullying

Be careful what you say online about other people. Some people start bullying because they feel wronged and are lashing out immaturely.

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Do not post anything that might embarrass someone else, even if it is true.

2. Protect your personal information

Do not post secrets or personal things you wouldn’t want the whole school to know. Never take or post immodest pictures of yourself. Once something is published online, you lose control over where it goes.

3. Restrict your friends and followers

Make sure your privacy settings on social networks only allow your approved friends to see your posts. Stalkers and bullies look for public pages, so keep your accounts private. This gives you control over who sees your information.

4. Do not retaliate

If someone starts cyberbullying you, do not respond online. Do not let them draw you into a public fight. Retaliate (harm someone in return for an injury) only keeps the drama going. Instead, deal with the problem offline.

5. Block the cyberbully

Thankfully, modern technology makes it easy to block phone numbers and social media accounts. Stop the bully from accessing your profiles or contacting your phone immediately.

6. Report the abuse

Get adults involved right away. Most online services have rules against harassment.

• Report the user: Reporting abuse to the service provider will often get the bully’s account suspended or closed.
• Inform your school: School officials want to confront bullies to stop them from attacking others and to help them get counseling.

7. Seek help

Get help from trusted adults to deal with the emotional toll. Even if you know the bully’s lies are not true, talking to an older, experienced person can help you process your feelings and move past the experience.

---

For all types of bullying, there is a wealth of helpful information online. Do a search on StopBullying.gov and discuss what you find with your parents. The adults who love you want to help, and you can help them by teaching them how to best support you.

What advice would you give others for dealing with cyberbullies?