Author: JaphetJan.25

Cyber Bullying is one of the misuses. It is concerned with the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.  With new social platforms being used more and more, cyber bullying is becoming a common threat to people. Because cyber bullying is committed through electronic devices and over social media platforms, mean and hurtful messages can be posted and distributed quickly to a wide audience, adding to the victim’s pain. It can be difficult, and in certain cases, impossible to delete cyber bullying messages.

Cyber bullying can appear in many forms:

1. Mean text messages or emails.

2. Rumors sent by email (to the victim or others).

3. Rumors posted on social networking.

4. Rude, critical or condescending comments on a post or status.

5. Posting embarrassing pictures and videos.

6. The creation of “blackmail” files, which may be used against the person at a later date or later in life.

7. The creation of fake online profiles.

Though the victim isn’t hurt physically but the affects of cyber bullying are equally adverse. Cyber bullying can be very damaging to adolescents and teens as it instills them with a threat to communicate and leads to low self-confidence. Cyber bullying is getting common between teens and is turning out to be an easy way to take revenge, reflects as an outcome of jealousy or insecurity. The sad part is that the kids who are involved in this practice are in pain on the both ends. Kids who bully are equally in trouble as those who are being bullied. The feelings of insecurity, jealousy or revenge come when kids are not able to share, communicate or express their thoughts and feeling. They feel unheard, vulnerable and try to seek attention by doing these things. And the elder predators are also targeting the kids as they can easily have their way with kids for the reason that kids are an easy target and it is easy to generate a feeling of fear in them.

Effects of Cyberbullying:

Cyber bullying unquestionably has a negative impact on its victims.  The fact that Internet harassment is meant to psychologically agitate its victims lends it to being harmful in nature. Victims feel a wide range of negative emotions as a result of being cyber bullied.  These include

– Anger

– Sadness

– Feeling hurt

– Embarrassed

– Afraid

– Low self-confidence

– Socially awkward

– Fear of communication

– Those who experience cyber bullying also experience a range of negative behavior that include poor concentration, low school achievement, absenteeism from school.

– Another problem of these negative emotions and behaviors is that the victim is more likely to resolve this strain through some sort of antisocial behavior. In severe cases, the victim may start feeling suicidal or even attempt to commit suicide without even sharing or talking about what has been happening.  

How can parents help?

— Talks to teens about cyber bullying, explaining that it is wrong and can have serious consequences. Make a rule that teens may not send mean or damaging messages, even if someone else started it, or suggestive pictures or messages or they will lose their cell phone and computer privileges for a time.

— Encourage teens to tell an adult if cyber bullying is occurring. Tell them if they are the victims they will not be punished, and reassure them that being bullied is not their fault.

— Teens should keep cyber bullying messages as proof that the cyber bullying is occurring. The teens’ parents may want to talk to the parents of the cyber bully, to the bully’s Internet or cell phone provider, and/or to the police about the messages, especially if they are threatening or sexual in nature.

— Try blocking the person sending the messages. It may be necessary to get a new phone number or email address and to be more cautious about giving out the new number or address.

— Teens should never tell their password to anyone except a parent, and should not write it down in a place where it could be found by others. Parents must guide their kids about it.

— Teens should not share anything through text or instant messaging on their cell phone or the Internet that they would not want to be made public – remind teens that the person they are talking to in messages or online may not be who they think they are, and that things posted electronically may not be secure.

— Encourage teens never to share personal information online or to meet someone they only know online.

— And the most important is that parents must talk about cyber bullying to their kids. Make sure they are not being bullied or bullies. In either case, talk the issue out and help your child with it. It is responsibility of parents to check if their child is involved in any such activity. Know what kind of company your kid is. You can get a hint if your kid is being bullied from the early signs such as social awkwardness, drifting away, lesser communication. 

Also read: Internet safety facts parents must know about.

Role of School and Educators to Keep Kids Cyber Safe:

Schools and educators can be very effective brokers in working with the parents to stop and remedy Cyber bullying situations. Especially, schools that have adopted the use of technology can play a significant role, as kids will access Internet in school premises as well. To make sure that kids aren’t bullying or being bullied, it is important that schools inherit them with net ethics. Students must be guided to use Internet safely and they should be given some set of Internet Usage rules that must be obeyed. Another crucial thing that can be done by schools is having digital citizenship for its students from the very beginning, with which you can help students to learn, communicate and collaborate safely over Internet.

Next read: Why is digital citizenship important? Even for the youngest kids.

Some more tips are mentioned below for teachers which if practiced may prevent kids getting involved in cyber bullying.

— Discuss Cyber Bullying: Give students the opportunity to discuss Cyber bullying. Ask them if they ever felt that they are being bullied. Take them in confidence that if anything happens, you will be there to help them and they must discuss with their teachers, parents or any adult whom they trust. Involve the class in determining that bullying behavior is unacceptable. Provide classroom activities and discussion opportunities related to Cyber bullying and violence, including the harm they cause and strategies to reduce their incidence.

— Cooperation via collaboration: Teach cooperation by assigning projects that require collaboration. Such cooperation teaches students how to compromise and how to assert without demanding. Take care to vary grouping of participants and to monitor the treatment of and by participants in each group.

— Take Immediate Action: Take immediate action when Cyber bullying is observed. All teachers and school staff must let children know they care and will not allow anyone to be mistreated. By taking immediate action and dealing directly with the bully, adults support both the victim and the witnesses. Also authorities must council the kid who was bullying.

— Confront in Private: Confront bullies in private. Challenging bullies in front of their peers may actually enhance their status and lead to further aggression.

— Involve Parents: Notify parents of both victims and bullies when a confrontation occurs. Listen receptively to parents who report bullying, and investigate reported circumstances so appropriate school action may be taken.

When being cyber bullied, there are practical ways to respond. But when the situation calls for it, don’t hesitate to get professional, legal and police assistance.

Cyberbullying in the Philippines

update: the anti-bullying act of 2013 is now a law but coverage is limited to high school students and below.

Until the the bullying law was enacted sans high profile cyber lynching cases reported by media, most incidents remain under reported. Since the anti-bullying act of 2013 covers only high school students and below, adult victims, on the other hand, can seek legal remedy from some provisions of the Cybercrime law.

Adults and parents whose kids might become a victim of bullying must find time to read and understand the provisions of both the bullying and cybercrime law.

What to do when being cyber bullied

Always inform somebody when you are being cyber bullied, harassed, stalked or mobbed

• As a minor, tell your parents or guardian. It is best to share this also to your class adviser or the school’s guidance office. Parents, it’s best to inform the principal about the incident. As required by law, schools thru the Principal or his/her designate, should conduct an investigation.
• As an adult, tell someone you trust, and if harassment is work related, it is wise to give your HR a heads-up. If you’re experiencing workplace bullying, here’s what you can do

Always keep a copy of the hate messages, degrading images and/or videos using a browser where the url is visible when taking a screenshot

• do not delete text messages, email, tweets and PMs/DMs.
• Always take a screenshot of the Facebook, Twitter and other social networ’s timeline
• Download a copy of degrading images or videos to be kept as evidence

Block the accounts of the people who are harassing you.

• Parents, do this immediately and have your kids take an online vacation
• For adult victims, do this if the attacks are affecting you already but ask someone to monitor the accounts of the bully.
• If you can, take an online vacation. Use a different CP numbers when necessary, but ask someone to monitor the SMS in your original number. When cyber bullied using social media, report the account, photos and videos to social network providers
  • For Facebook abuses, if you do not have an account, report HERE
  • If you have a Facebook account and you wish to report a harassment/bullying follow this GUIDELINES
  • For Twitter abuses, report HERE
  • For Instagram, go HERE.

Seek professional. police and/or legal help when necessary.

According to this news report, if cyberbullying is happening to you or a love one, you can contact the National Bureau of Investigation at ccd@nbi.gov.ph or call 521-9208, local extensions 3429 (Chief) and 3497 (Staff).

If both the cyber bully victim and offender is minor

• *Bully is from the same school – report to the child protection committee or the guidance counselor
• *Bully is from another school –  report to the offenders school
• Bully is out of school youth – bring the matter to the barangay where the offender is residing

* the school will determine if aside from administrative sanction, there is a need to file criminal charges. If parents are not happy with handling, they can escalate the incident to Dep Ed.

** if there is no resolution at the barangay level, they can proceed to the Women and Child Protection Desk of the PNP or DSWD

If offenders are adult but cyber bully victims are either minor or women

• Go to the nearest Women and Children’s Protection Desk of PNP
• Alternately, you can file an online report here: http://acg.pnp.gov.ph/main/?page_id=1047 (use cyber harassment)
• Or visit either the PNP Cybercrime Unit at Camp Crame or the NBI Cybercrime Unit

If both the cyber bully victim and offender are adult

• You can file an online report here: http://acg.pnp.gov.ph/main/?page_id=1047 (use cyber harrassment)
• Or visit either the PNP Cybercrime Unit at Camp Crame or the NBI Cybercrime Unit

Schools and Companies, for support purposes, should have a bullying and  social computing policy; and promote surf safe practices thru learning events and other interventions.   The policy should answer for the administrative discipline of the perpetrator. Likewise, a counselling program should also be in place for victims of any forms of bullying.

Like all forms of bullying, cyberbullying causes psychological, emotional and physical stress.

Each person’s response to being bullied is unique, but research has shown some general tendencies.

StopBullying.gov reports that youth who are bullied have a higher risk of depression and anxiety. Symptoms may include:

• increased feelings of sadness and loneliness
• changes in sleep and eating patterns
• loss of interest in activities
• more health complaints

Youth who are bullied are more likely to struggle personally and at school. They may:

• miss, skip or drop out of school
• receive poor grades
• have lower self-esteem
• use alcohol and drugs

Bullying can lead to thoughts about suicide, sometimes persisting into adulthood. In one study, adults who were bullied as youth were three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or inclinations.

Youth who are bullied may retaliate through violent measures. In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.

Bullying, no matter whether it is traditional bullying or cyberbullying, causes significant emotional and psychological distress. In fact, just like any other victim of bullying, cyberbullied kids experience anxiety, fear, depression, and low self-esteem. They also may deal with low self-esteem, experience physical symptoms, and struggle academically. But targets of cyberbullying also experience some unique consequences and negative feelings. Here are some common feelings cyberbullied teens and tweens often experience.

Feel overwhelmed. Being targeted by cyberbullies is crushing especially if a lot of kids are participating in the bullying. It can feel at times like the entire world knows what it is going on. Sometimes the stress of dealing with cyberbullying can cause kids to feel like the situation is more than they can handle. 

Feel vulnerable and powerless. Victims of cyberbullying often find it difficult to feel safe. Typically, this is because the bullying can invade their home through a computer or cell phone at any time of day. They no longer have a place where they can escape. To a victim, it feels like the bullying is everywhere. Additionally, because the bullies can remain anonymous, this can escalate feelings of fear. Kids who are targeted have no idea who is inflicting the pain—although some cyberbullies choose people they know.

Feel exposed and humiliated. Because cyberbullying occurs in cyberspace, online bullying feels permanent. Kids know that once something is out there, it will always be out there. When cyberbullying occurs, the nasty posts, messages or texts can be shared with multitudes of people. The sheer volume of people that know about the bullying can lead to intense feelings of humiliation.

Feel dissatisfied with who they are. Cyberbullying often attacks victims where they are most vulnerable. As a result, targets of cyberbullying often begin to doubt their worth and value. They may respond to these feelings by harming themselves in some way. For instance, if a girl is called fat, she may begin a crash diet with the belief that if she alters how she looks then the bullying will stop. Other times victims will try to change something about their appearance or attitude in order to avoid additional cyberbullying.

Feel angry and vengeful. Sometimes victims of cyberbullying will get angry about what is happening to them. As a result, they plot revenge and engage in retaliation. This approach is dangerous because it keeps them locked in the bully-victim cycle. It is always better to forgive a bully than it is to get even.

Here’s a link for more information: https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-are-the-effects-of-cyberbullying-460558

Cyber bullying affects people from any age or walk of life, including children, teens and adults who all feel very distressed and alone when being bullied online.  Cyber bullying can make you feel totally overwhelmed which can result in many feeling embarrassed that they are going through such a devastating time, and not knowing what support is available to them.  Many children feel unable to confide in an adult because they feel ashamed and wonder whether they will be judged, told to ignore it or close their account which they might not want to do.   

Here’s a link for more information: https://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/effects-of-cyberbullying/?fbclid=IwAR2cpHUBibLYDQLcc1VikGyeEfzXht_e-3qOoZptUGWfV1GgRN1H6Y9R_xg