What is cyberbullying and why its danger should not be underestimated

What is cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that uses internet technology and gadgets. This can be bombarding the victim with offensive SMS, negative comments on social networks, spreading memes, and so on.

At the same time, it is important to understand that any bullying involves targeted and repetitive actions. Random holivar on a complex topic with a transition to personalities is not cyberbullying. If one of the participants in the dispute after that every day writes nasty things to the opponent and rinses him on third-party sites, this is already cyberbullying.

The aggressor can act alone from his or different accounts. But often bullying becomes a collective event. For example, a person can post on some website the contacts of the victim and a call to pursue her on the Internet. And if at least some of the people follow him, the victim will face a stream of aggression.

Of course, cyberbullying is not only insults. The aggressor can distribute

intimate pictures, publish information that the victim would like to keep secret, and so on.

Most often, teenagers suffer from cyberbullying. According to statistics, which includes Russia, almost 60% of adolescents generally experience bullying. At the same time, every fifth case is cyberbullying. And it should be borne in mind that the data are given based on the results of parental surveys, that is, the problem is much larger. After all, children do not always share such things with adults. For example, in Russia, parents have expressed an extraordinary level of confidence that their children have not been cyberbullied. And we can assume that this is not because of the total digital kindness and well-being in the Russian Federation.

Adults experience this too. For example, according to the data VTsIOM poll As of 2021, 5% of respondents have experienced rumors spreading about them, 3% have experienced threats of violence, 2% have experienced the publication of intimate photos, and 7% have experienced trolling.

Why cyberbullying is dangerous

It may seem that cyberbullying is not serious. It's one thing to be physically harassed, and another to be insulted online. This is not entirely true.

The danger of online bullying is that it is continuous. If a person, for example, encounters At workhe might quit. He has a safe space where he can breathe - home. This is not the case with cyberbullying. In order not to be exposed to it, the victim must stop going online, although communication there is an important part of life.

The consequences of cyberbullying can be very serious - from constant fear and anxiety to suicide.

Particularly vulnerable to it teenagers. But such consequences are possible in other age categories.

A separate danger is that the aggressors who act online do not always realize the scale of the damage they cause. In personal communication, the attacker can stop, even if he feels hostility towards the person, as he will see that he is crossing a certain line. Acting through the Internet, he does not notice the consequences. So everything can end sadly - up to of death victims.

So, a 15-year-old Canadian schoolgirl passed away due to cyberbullying, which began with the fact that her topless photo appeared on the Internet. She was bullied for several years and during that time made several suicide attempts. The last one ended in death. There are many similar cases, even taking into account that the most tragic ones become public. Therefore, cyberbullying should not be underestimated.

What drives cyberbullying

The first and most obvious answer to the question of why an aggressor attacks is because he can. In reality, not everyone will dare to bully. It’s easy to mock someone on the Internet, just the Internet is enough. Buller is practically in no danger, he just presses the buttons and gets emotions. Sometimes he may not even know the victim - just pass by. Anonymity and ignorance of possible consequences act as additional provoking factors.

Anyone can be a cyberbully. Moreover, exists a phenomenon when the victim turns into an aggressor if he gains enough strength and begins to respond to the attacker.

But, of course, the predisposition to network aggression is different for everyone. Most exposed either very popular people, or those who themselves have some problems. The former see it as a way to remain popular and feel omnipotent - this behavior creates the illusion that the aggressor can control people's lives. Less socially successful users practice cyberbullying to raise self-esteem, fit into society, feel in control.

What to do if you are experiencing cyberbullying

Don't blame yourself

As in the case of other aggression, anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. You already get it from others, do not aggravate the situation self-flagellation.

Do not feed the trolls

The aggressor wants a reaction from the victim. If possible, don't make contact: don't make excuses, don't argue. Feel free to ban attackers' accounts. Sometimes it seems that this can be perceived as a weakness. But your task now is to minimize hurtful content.

If the situation requires explanation, for example, your reputation is suffering, you can write a policy post in which you state your position. Trying to prove something to every aggressor is a waste of time. They do not come at all to clarify the situation.

Ask for help

You don't have to deal with everything alone. If you think about it, there are sure to be people who can help you. For example, social networks have moderators who will ban aggressors. If you have a loved one whom you absolutely trust, it may be worth giving him access to your accounts for a while. And he, in turn, will clean out the Augean stables of negative comments so that you do not come into contact with them.

If bullying goes beyond all limits, try contacting law enforcement agencies and the court. Not that the chances of defending themselves through state structures are great. But all of a sudden you get it. Lifehacker has a detailed instructionhow, when and on what grounds to do it.

Talk to a psychologist

What you are experiencing is terrible. You don't have to deal with these feelings on your own. Sign up with a specialist who will help you survive the situation with less loss.

How to help a victim of cyberbullying

As with any type of bullying, it's important to let the victim know you're on their side. Don't discount the victim's suffering, don't offer "just ban and forget». Firstly, it doesn’t work like that, and secondly, this is how you leave a person alone with negativity, because you distance yourself from him. It is also important not to blame the victim, not to lament “oh, if I hadn’t done this then ...”

Support must be unequivocal.

If you want to help not in word, but in deed, you can figure out how the victim can contact the administration of the social network, law enforcement agencies, and so on.