Impact of Cyberbullying
Cyber-bullying currently has become prevalent and thus receiving much attention. It can be defined as the behavioral aspects of people to intimidate others through electronic gadgets, such as tablets, computers, and cell phones. It more utilizes the communication tools, including web-based technologies such as sites of social media explicitly, chat room conversations, instant messages, and texts (Whittaker and Kowalski, 16). Cyber-bullying has an emotional aspect, which, as per the statistics, causes symptoms of dissociation and depression and the feeling of anger. The previous emotional abuse episodes were substantially correlated with cyber-bullying. At the same time, other aspects of the trauma are associated with sexual and physical abuse as well as emotional and physical neglect.
Cyberbullying laws did not exist until the mid-2000s. However, the legislators were never blind as they witnessed the increased incidences of people publicly intimidated by cyberbullying, including the tragic results in various cases (school shootings and suicides, for instance) (Whittaker and Kowalski, 21). As time moved by, laws started arising in most of the states restricting cyberbullying. The laws categorized cyberbullying to be a criminal offense that can land a person in jail.
Children and teenagers are the most impacted by cyberbullying menace since they are the prevalent users of social media sites. Cyberbullying tends to start as soon as kids get online. So the typical age at which it occurs is when children get to play online games, entering chat rooms, or opening social media accounts (Hamm et al., 776). Many children begin playing online games before they are 13, and once they are 13, they are allowed to have social networking accounts set up.
The attacks are usually cruel and vicious in this bullying type. Knowing the person bullying others tends to be difficult, and the reason for the target as the perpetrator is usually anonymous. The effects can include low self-esteem, refusing to go to school, the victim may want always to be alone, keeping their gadgets hidden from adults, weight loss, changes on appearance, marks on the skin indicating self-harm and the most dangerous one is taking his/her own life (Hamm et al., 774). Additionally, cyberbullying has lots of dangers, and worst of it is self-harming and suicide. It is widespread, the children and teenagers are aware of its existence, they comprehend ways that it occurs, and yet they are unaware of it or concerned with consequences of the actions.
Cyberbullying and bullying apply the same laws. Laws that criminalize electronic harassment and intimidation may help protect many people from more direct forms of abuse (Hamm et al., 772). For the many states that have either created laws on cyberbullying or re-written existing stalking/harassment/intimidation laws to include electronic forms specifically, I am not aware of any widespread “threat” to internet speech. The same laws apply to bully; the two are treated as a criminal offense.
Cyberbullying can be prevented in various ways. It is the responsibility of the parent to actively behave as well as discuss freely and openly with their children regarding the issues. The children ought to be careful as well as should not take the message seriously. In case the harassment comes in the form of mail or instant messages, it is ideal to stop it by blocking the bully. Also, sharing personal life through social networking sites is dangerous as the bullies can utilize such information. Most importantly, in case such instances occur, the victim has to report the case to the relevant authorities.
Works Cited
Hamm, Michele P., et al. “Prevalence and effect of cyberbullying on children and young people: A scoping review of social media studies.” JAMA pediatrics 169.8 (2015): 770-777.
Whittaker, Elizabeth, and Robin M. Kowalski. “Cyberbullying via social media.” Journal of school violence 14.1 (2015): 11-29.