While it may seem that some kids are destined to be bullies and others are destined to be bullied, just about any child can take on any role. Even though bullying doesn’t really have any strict guidelines to follow, there are certain kids that are more likely to become cyberbullying victims if the proper steps aren’t taken to protect them and arm them with the proper information. Learning which kids are more likely to become the victims can help parents, teachers and other adults to curb cyberbullying and help these children deal with whatever comes their way.
No Prejudice
Bullying of all kinds shows no prejudice. Children of all ages, races, sexes and backgrounds can become Cyberbullying victims. When the bullies are looking for their targets, they are looking for something that really sets other children apart from their peers. While the factors listed can set a child apart from the others, they typically aren’t what causes a child to become the victim of a bully. Instead, there are other factors the bullies focus on to help them choose a target they view as weaker and unworthy.
Neurological Conditions
The children who are the most susceptible to becoming the Cyberbullying victims are those who suffer from some type of neurological condition, including ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s and other learning disabilities. This is because these children are visibly different from other children in many ways. Even in the cases of being bullied online, children who suffer from these conditions interact with others in different ways, making them clear targets for the bullies who are looking for a CyberBullying Victim. Unfortunately, these children typically don’t have the right tools to fight against the bullies, making them a favourite target over and over again.
Social Difficulties
Although social difficulties are often associated with certain neurological conditions, the two things do not always co-exist. There are children who are otherwise normal who still have difficulties dealing with their peers on a social level. When this occurs, these children are often bullied as well. Bullies look for children who exhibit some type of weakness the bully can play upon. Children who have difficulty in social situations will exhibit clearly visible signs of their discomfort, such as not talking to others, averting eye contact, slumping their shoulders, walking slowly and sitting alone. When bullies identify this behaviour, they are more likely to make a move on this target, mistreating him and making him a CyberBullying Victim.
Lack of Aggression
Some children are naturally easy to push around. These children tend to go along with the crowd and don’t fight back, even if something isn’t to their liking. These children can also become easy targets, both in the real world and in the cyber world. Bullies aren’t going to pick on someone who is more likely to fight back against them. They want to go after the children who will simply take it. This is why it is important for parents to teach their children how to fight back against bullies. While it isn’t appropriate for your child to participate in the bullying in return, it is important to learn to stand up for himself to fend off the bullies.
Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is another key factor in determining whether a child will become a CyberBullying Victim or other types of bullying. Children who have been emotionally beaten down to a point of suffering from low self-esteem are more likely to fall victim to the negative behaviour of bullies. In many cases, the only way to resolve this issue is to work with your child to increase his self-esteem and help him feel more confident and better about himself.
Physical Disabilities
While not as much of a factor in cyberbullying as bullying in the real world, physical disabilities can play a major role in whether a child is a CyberBullying Victim. In most cases, children are tolerant of those who have visible physical disabilities, but there are still some bullies who will attack someone because they look different from everyone else. Unfortunately, there are some of the most difficult types of cases to handle because the victim has no control over the issue that has led to the bullying. In these cases, the bully’s views must be changed to curb the behaviour.
Provocative Victims
Although most people think of the passive victims who have been bullied, there are some victims who are considered provocative. These victims are somewhat aggressive and may actually engage in behaviour that can lead to negative interactions with bullies. While this by no means indicates the victim is at fault for the treatment he receives, it does make it difficult to handle the behaviour. In these cases, it isn’t just the bully that needs to be changed; the person who is being bullied must make changes to the way he behaves to help put a stop to the problem.
Sexuality
Although being gay is becoming more socially acceptable in the world, it can still be a problem when it comes to bullies. Those who engage in this type of behaviour are looking for what they perceive to be a weakness or something that is different from the norm. Unfortunately, this means those who are openly gay, lesbian or trans-gendered are more likely to become victims of this behaviour than their straight peers. As more people begin to accept these lifestyles, this type of bullying behaviour should also experience a reduction.
Cyberbullying is a serious problem today. This is why it is important to understand the victims and why they are targeted, whether they are targeted online or in the real world at school or even in the neighbourhood. When parents, teachers and other adults are able to identify the children who are at a greater risk of becoming a victim, they can work with these children to teach them how to handle it. They can also work with those children who are more likely to bully these children to teach them to be more accepting and how to better interact together. When everyone works together, bullying can be stopped.