Taking Affirmative Action Against Cyberbullies

A recent massacre that involved a drive-by shooting which killed four people and injured seven in an urban district left citizens hurt, angry and baffled. To add insult to injury a ‘message’ was put on Facebook stating that the first drive-by shooting was just the beginning, and the ‘retaliation’ job would be finished off later. That is a very good reason to learn How To Stop Cyberbullying!

This direct taunt by either the perpetrators or a prankster was a real but painful example of cyberbullying. Actions like these show a lack of respect for authority by egocentric or attention seeking individuals who will stop at nothing to gain recognition and attention from people. These people care or feel little about the effect their actions take and whom they hurt.

Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to antagonize, tease, or defame a group of persons on a public scale. No one is really safe from cyberbullying and its effects, and anyone can be a victim, but knowing how to stop cyberbullying is a key factor in lessening public cyber abuse of this kind.

How To Stop Cyberbullying

Statistics

Below are some cyberbullying statistics discovered by The Cyberbullying Research board:

  • Four out of five teens constantly use cell phones, thus making it a convenient means of technology and a regular vehicle for cyberbullying
  • 50% of adolescents have suffered from cyberbullying in one way or another, and 10 to 20 percent are constant victims of it
  • Damaging comments and spreading negative propaganda among peers are the regular mode for cyber bullying
  • It is just as normal for girls to be cyberbullies or suffer from it as boys
  • Boys are targeted by cyberbullies far more than girls
  • Cyberbullying knows no race or gender barrier
  • Victims of cyberbullying have low self-esteem and therefore are more likely to be targeted by bullies

Cyberbullying is a traumatic experience for teens. It can cause stress, anxiety and even spur suicide. Many cyber bullies feel that tormenting people online is a joke. They don’t seem to understand the consequences that may befall them of cyberbullying. Consequences of ill behaviour online sometimes won’t catch up with bullies until later on in life. Cyber bullies can lose phones or online privileges andiIt is also possible for cyberbullies and their guardians to be sued. Young adults feel that falsifying their names will protect them, but authorities know how to stop cyberbullying.

Facts

  1. More than 3.2 million school-age people are plagued by cyberbullying each year.
  2. One-fourth of educators won’t take bullying seriously and will intercede only 4 percent of the time.
  3. Roughly 160,000 young adults duck school every day because of cyberbullying.
  4. 1 in 7 children ages 6 to 19 is either a bully or a victim of bullying.
  5. More than half of school children have seen some type of bullying at school.
  6. More than 60% of school children feel that schools don’t support bullying prevention, and many get the impression that adults are no help at all.
  7. 9 out of 10 students from elementary to middle school suffer from bullying.

So, How To Stop Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is more acute because the bully thrives on anonymity; they can plague people any time; anywhere. Though cyber bullying is rampant, there are several schemes kids, parents, and other affected grown-ups can learn as to how to stop cyber bullying:

  • Define what cyberbullying is to your children, why it should be stopped, and the painful results of that action for both victim and bully. It is hard to swallow if you find your child guilty of cyberbullying, but by teaching them respect for themselves and others, they will understand why they were wrong.
  • Make children feel confident and comfortable enough to report cyberbullying when it happens.

Parents and children who have suffered from cyber bullying may not know how to cope with it. In several instances, though not as common, teachers and principals have been the arbitrators of bullying. It can be bad enough for the parents to send their child to another school. Taking legal action concerning this matter may work. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

  • Don’t look down on children for being victims. This means parents should not confiscate their electronics, or punish them by telling them they should have known better.
  • Explain to children that retaliation doesn’t resolve anything. If they did actually retaliate, encourage them to resolve it through discussions, but don’t make them feel like this started the bullying.
  • When cyberbullying happens, it is best to record it by saving the message, having it printed, or capturing a screenshot. This gives authorities what they need to stop cyberbullying.

So what is cyberbullying? Learn more on How To Stop Cyber Bullying Now!