Cyberbullying is one of the worst forms of bullying a person can experience. Reason being, it frequently does not happen in the physical form and can have a larger audience depending on whether the person decides to publicly or privately bully you.
The Unicef website defines cyberbullying as, “bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted.”
Cyberbullies often bully others by spreading lies about them. They may also post embarrassing photos or videos of their target on social media.
They also send hurtful, abusive and threatening messages, images or videos via social media or messaging platforms.
They create fake accounts in order to impersonate someone by sending mean messages to others pretending to be their victims.
Cyberbullying can affect the victim’s mental well-being as they might start feeling ashamed, nervous, anxious and insecure about what people say or think about them.
They might also withdraw from friends and family, and have negative thoughts about themselves with guilty feelings about things they’ve done and not done. Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, frequent headaches, nausea or stomachaches are also common.
Unicef suggests that you seek help from someone you trust if you think you’re being bullied. It could be your parents or a close family member or another trusted adult.
If at school, you can ask to speak to a counsellor, your favourite schoolteacher or your favourite sports coach.
If cyberbullying occurs in the workplace, the Verywell Health website suggests the following:
- Keep copies of any and all harassment that goes on in the workplace.
- Report your cyberbully to your Human Resources (HR) department.
- Report your cyberbully to law enforcement if you are being threatened.
- Close off all personal communication pathways with your cyberbully.
- Maintain a professional attitude at work regardless of what is being said or done.
- Seek out support through friends, family, or professional help.
