In today’s society, the Internet has initiated an advanced world of new possibilities. Although these possibilities can range from jobs to finding a soulmate, the Internet and social media brings dangers. As the Internet and social media network platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, begin to expand each year with the development of new digital products, cyber bullying grows with this trend. Cyber bullying occurs when a person is harassed, threatened or tormented using digital technology, and is an attempt to get a child to feel badly about themselves. This includes leaving unkind messages on someone’s page or blog, uploading embarrassing photos, or spreading rumors through text messaging. Cyber bullying is a problem affecting people worldwide. Children, teenagers, and adults become victims of digital bullying on an everyday basis. Several issues arise from cyber bullying, including mental and emotional distress, and can often be a short or long term effect. As the world of cyber bullying grows, many organizations and laws have been put in place to reduce the occurrence of cyber bullying.
The growth of technology provides an unsafe space as it opens new opportunities to communicate with anyone online. In another article, “Cyber Bullying: Bullying Through Technology,“ by Melissa Luhtanen J.D. and Lisa Ellis, the authors write, “today’s new technologies have made communication much easier…Youth can “chat” online with multiple people simultaneously, have a conversation with a number of parties, or even send messages to thousands of people”. In reality, many people believe this is a scary thing. Majority of websites in todays society has been created to provide a space for people to communicate with one another. The Internet has become a dangerous place due to the fact that people can communicate with people they don’t know and share information to thousands of people at once. The Internet and social media websites become a major problem as hackers can also take photos of people without them knowing or their consent. “Ninety-four percent of young people have access to the Internet in their homes, while 23% of young people have their own cell phones” (Luhtanen and Ellis). As communication sales increase, it increases the rate of cyberbullying as kids have more access and freedom to the Internet. Young people have more freedom at home due to the fact that the own computers instead of cell phones and may not be watched by their relatives. As telephone companies come out with new products, young people often feel the need to purchase the newest and best innovations. The “Internet offers a place where some users feel anonymous. One study found that 59% of users have assumed a different identity…17% suggested that they pretended to be someone else so they could ‘act mean to people and not get into trouble’” (Luhtanen and Ellis). The use of a false name or identity becomes a major controversy within the growth of technology. Some may believe that people have the right to not publicize their real name, as others may believe that it contributes to the growth of cyberbullying. In my own experience, when a person from an anonymous profile shares information about things in your own personal life, it makes the mind begin to ask itself questions on who this person can be behind the profile or what other information they know. Technology is a dangerous place for everyone, as it can create several debates and problems associated with children or teenagers.
In today’s generation of growing technology, cyberbullying becomes more pervasive towards young females. It is a known fact that boys are more subjective to solving issues face-to-face, as “the venues for female cyberbullying are numerous.” Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, text message and Facebook are often the most common and “easily accessible methods” for cyberbullying, as described in the article “Female Cyberbullying: Causes and Preventions Strategies” by Lori O. Favela. In today’s generation, females are more prone to posting and bullying other females online. In my seventh grade experience, other girls often posted mean things about one another on social media websites to resist confrontation, as boys would meet eye-to-eye. Favela claims that the reason why girls are more adapted to cyberbullying is because “girls are not as concerned with establishing their dominance physically, girls prefer to utilize relational aggression (rumors, exclusion, etc.) as it fits better with female societal expectations and girls prefer language use over other types of aggression.” In reality, I can agree that this is true from past experiences. Growing up with advancing technology and the growth of new social media sites, girls often felt the need to hide behind digital screens to spread rumors because it felt more dominant. It was said in another article, “Teen Girls With Smartphones Flirt Most With Depression and Suicide,” by Jean M. Twenge, that “girls have always fretted about their appearance and jockeyed for acceptance among their friends.” Twenge believes that since girls always look for acceptance on their appearances, it is why they spend more time on social media and “texting-technologies.” I believe that girls often use social media for attention from others, which can lead to cyberbullying depending on what a females posts or says. This makes girls subjective to cyberbullying as others may feel the need to repost others pictures or make rude comments about their appearance. Girls tend to face harsher realities within todays generation because their lives revolve around social media.
Victims of cyberbullying can face several mental and physical issues as many victims feel neglected or alone. These issue include anxiety, depression, social issues, lowering of academic ability or even substance abuse. Kids often feel the need to bully others because those people are not able to defend themselves. In the article “Cyberbullying” by Gale(?), the author says, “Children are more likely to be bullied if they are different from their peers in appearance, personality, or disposition…lower socioeconomic status are also at increased risk of being victimized.” Despite students indifferences, kids will often use others physical appearance to victimize that person because it is nothing they can truly change. There was once a student in my class who had two down-syndrome brothers, and she was often looked upon as different because of her appearance and the way her family was. I believe it is morally wrong for students to victimize others for the way their appearances are or the way their family is. Many problems arise from cyberbullying. For instance, cyberbullying includes “such consequences as…tensions, and conflicts with siblings or parents, and engaging in risky, illegal, or self-destructive behavior” (Gale). In high school, I had a friend who developed an addicting personality towards drugs to take the pain away. As most will take the anger out on their families to relieve the pain, majority of victim’s families don’t understand what is happening in their child lives, and so, they decide to take the anger personal, creating more problems. Many signs are shown when a child is being cyberbullied. The most common signs of cyberbullying are “suddenly losing interest in connected devices and online communities, or feeling uneasy about using the Internet, going to school, or attending social functions” (Gale). As a victim of cyberbullying, I can relate to all of these signs. I often did not want to use my telephone or the Internet, as I believed that if I went on either one, I would see personal information about myself. I never truly wanted to attend school or social functions which included the students at my school and often used the excuse that I did not feel good. Personally, it is truly upsetting that people abuse this wonderful advantage we now have in today’s society, and instead of using it for better opportunities, they take advantage of it and bully others.
Cyber bullying has been a huge debate, and many questions are asked on how
the government is trying to prevent cyberbullying.