Cyber bullying

How ironic that I should talk about this via the Internet, but after watching a VT featured on tonight’s Comic Relief about a teenage boy who took his own life, it reminded be about the massive impact one persons words can have on another. Bullying is a subject covered time and time again. I often wonder if bullies that sit and watch bullying discussed on TV, read about it in magazines, hear about it from friends, are just as shocked and disgusted as everyone else, because they simply don’t realise they have done it. 

Over half of teens have been a victim of cyber-bullying and about the same have been the bully. Only 1 in 10 teens tell a parent that they are being cyber-bullied. People choose to attempt to deal with the bullies themselves as the problem develops, which can lead to depression, self-harm and in extreme cases suicide.

 

Cyber- bullying has become an ever increasing issue due to it’s many forms and the ways it can be done. 

Examples include: 

Mean and hurtful messages online/by text

Rumours spread online/by text

Threatening text messages

Hacking into social networking accounts and sending damaging messages

Creating and spreading pictures relating to sexuality, appearance, etc.

 

And now bullies are given the option to post anonymously. 

 

The story I saw is just one of many like it throughout the world and that is the saddest part of it all. ‘A bit of fun’ can cost a life. I just hope that it makes people think twice before they decide to send that unpleasant message. Think about the effect one derogatory word from them can have on another. Try to imagine if someone you know was being effected by cyber-bullying.

 

If you are a victim of cyber-bullying, please, please tell someone. As clichéd as it sounds, you are not alone.

 

[stats found on http://www.bullyingstatistics.org]

[childline: 0800 1111]

[comic relief: 03457 910 910]