Bullying, for a while now, has been one of the top social and health issues for children and adolescents worldwide. Bullying, unfortunately, becomes more prominent as a social and legal tort. Given that it occurs in schools and other educational institutions it's associated with the further development of a person’s personality.
Living in the modern internet and high-tech era, bullying transitions from a physical place to cyberspace. An insightful article on the subject "Cyberbullying: Its Social and Psychological Harms Among Schoolersy" - https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=ijcic defines cyberbullying as "any intentional harm delivered through electronic media, including emails, instant messaging or chat, texts, online gaming, and posts from social media, which may inflict psychological, social, educational and/or physical harm to the targeted youth."
Even though cyberbullying doesn't physically harm the youth, victims can inflict self-harm as a response to their victimization. Some would even argue that the psychological harm done by cyberbullying can be worse.
What is the best way to prevent or at least decrease cyberbullying?
That was a brilliant review and posting of the current thinking in cyberbullying. Thanks for sharing.
It is interesting how most of the interventions seem focused on the victim rather than the perpetrator. I think there needs to be some loss of ability to remain anonymous within school-based platforms and social media as well as social media as a whole.
Once this anonymity is removed, then we might be able to confront the bully and allow them to face the consequences of their actions. In this, I don't mean direct punishment per se, but direct contact with the oft tragic consequences that thoughtlessness and malice can lead to.
The article mentioned adult support (pg 32)
But perhaps we need to go one step further and introduce key CBT and stoic philosophy (Epictetus etc) that would help fortify the mental resilience of vulnerable children and adolescents.
But social culture has to change, as we are more aware of individual rights no matter ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation perhaps unraveling the toxic motivations of bullies needs to be further explored.
Thanks again for sharing