Cyberbullying - The Increase in Online Harassment
By Alana Ciccone, Freshman Staff Writer
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Cyberbullying is the leading cause of 14.5% of suicides a year according to the article, "Cyberbullying and Adolescent Suicide". A shocking 72% of children globally have had at least one cyber threat, putting so many young lives at risk. Cyberbullying is a bigger problem than most people think. Over the past year, multiple schools across the country have reported a noticeable increase in cyberbullying. Social media, group chats, and other apps have become extremely popular. While everyone loves these things, it's not all fun. More students are finding themselves dealing with hate messages, death threats and attacks online than ever before. One of the biggest problems is that you never know who is sitting behind that screen saying hurtful things to you, and it is never easy to figure out who it is.
Image from Cyberbullying.org
The person who is calling you names and telling you unimaginable things could be sitting next to you in class or could be 2,000 miles away from you, which makes cyber bullying especially frightening. A simple notification on your screen can end in stress, humiliation, and self-hate. The documentary, "Unknown Number; The High School Catfish” is a real story about a girl who got heavily cyber bullied for two whole years, but the whole time, it was her own mother saying these disgusting things to her own daughter. This is just one extreme case of how people can easily hide behind the screen and inflict harm on just about anyone they choose, even their own family.
Cyberbullying is not a trend that will fade away with time. It is necessary that we safeguard ourselves as well as those close to us. An important first step in preventing cyber bullying is to make your social media accounts private. With just a click on your phone you can make your account accessible only to people you trust. You can also block the offending account. Unfortunately, it is very easy for cyberbullies to make new accounts or change phone numbers. Platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook all offer private accounts and the block button.
Many schools and offices offer workshops and classes on Internet safety and cyberbullying. While the Internet can be a scary place, more often than not it allows people to connect in a positive way. Educating children and adults on the dangers is the first step to creating a healthy online experience.
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