Cyberbullying is a form of online harassment or bullying using electronic means. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram etc.
• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
• Email
• Online gaming communities
How we can stop or prevent cyberbullying? 1) Don’t respond to any emails, app messages, or text messages sent by cyberbullies. 2) Don’t be an accomplice by forwarding any of the messages to others kids. 3) Take screeshots as proof and evidence of cyberbullying. 4) If you are being bullied, tell an adult to get help solving the problem.
Cyber crime is any criminal related activity done by a person using a computer or network. It can also be defined as any illegal activity done via the internet. Offences that are committed against individuals or group of individuals with a criminal motive to imtentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet (e – mails, chat rooms, etc) and mobile phones(bluetooth, sms, mms) is termed as cyber crime.
Listed below are some ways to prevent Cyber Crime:
1)Strong password
Passwords should be of eight characters (including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols).
2) Ensure your software is up-to-date
3) Don’t fall for pop-ups
If an email or pop-up window asks you to enter username or password, don’t do it. Instead, open your browser and visit the site directly.
4) Secure your internet network with a strong encryption passwoed and a VPN
5) Educate yoir children about internet risks
Communicate with them and assure them that they can come to you if they face any stalking, bullying or online harassment.
6) Protect your financial data
Remember this: Legitimate banks or companies will never ask for any personal details or ask you to transfer money into an account.
7) If you fall victim to Cyber crime, then:
a) contact the banks or companies where the fraud occured.
b) place fraud alerts and get your credit reports
c) register complaint with cyber cell or local police station
These days people are totally dependent on the internet. The Internet became a necessity in human lives, the more people are using the internet the more it is developing. And the more it is developing the more it is creating an impact in the society. Communicating with people became so easy. But everything has its own drawbacks and so does the internet, Cyberbullying being one of them.Cyber Bullying is nothing but bullying someone on online platforms such as Facebook, What’s-app, Instagram, tweeter etc. But it is said to be bullied only when something negative is shared about someone and that can cause a huge harm to their reputation. Cyber bullying is so dangerous because it gives the ability to harass anyone in public at any time through devices and mostly students are the victims of these kinds of harassment.
Effects of cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is a very serious issue affecting not just the young victims, but also the victims’ families, the bully, and those who witness instances of cyberbullying. However, the effect of cyberbullying can be most detrimental to the victim, of course, as they may experience a number of emotional issues that affect their social and academic performance as well as their overall mental health. When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects of cyberbullying also include mental health issues, increased stress and anxiety, depression, acting out violently, and low self-esteem. Cyberbullying can also result in long-lasting emotional effects, even if the bullying has stopped. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways like feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love, tired ,experiencing symptoms like headaches. The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives. Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.
How to put an end to cyberbullying
If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged. We all want cyberbullying to stop, which is one of the reasons reporting cyberbullying is so important. But creating the Internet we want goes beyond calling out bullying. We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It’s up to all of us!
It is important for us to understand that it can be a very small step to go from what is intended to be a harmless joke to a full-blown cyberbullying campaign. The lack of face-to-face interaction and the feeling of power one gains from sitting behind a computer screen can turn what might normally be a traditional case of schoolyard teasing into a steady onslaught of harassment, shaming, and threats of bodily harm.
“Bullying is a horrible thing. It sticks with you forever. It poisons you. But only if you let it.”
Whenever we see a person making fun or play a prank on someone, we’ll probably snort or grin and say that guy is joking around but what about the person whom he/she made fun of? Was that person fine with it? Personally, no one cares, mostly because they don’t understand the real meaning of the term “Bullying”. Bullying is when someone is picked on by a person/group or someone who uses their power to harm or control a person. Bullies might make fun of somebody who they believe doesn’t fit in or seems like they are weak and cannot stand up for themselves.Some instances of bullying are spreading rumors, social status, appearance, threatening harm, sexual identity, religion, and one major kind of bullying where these bullies posts mean texts or nasty photos online known as Cyber Bullying.
The aftermath of bullying can be horrifying. It can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, lack of self-confidence and self-respect, lose interest from their work, or worse become a bully. Bullies can be kind and fake – this bully might act like your buddy so you tell them things, but later do harmful things behind your back.The outspoken and aggressive one might make fun of you to your face or physically hurt you and secretive and tricky. This bully might attempt to maneuver in secret. They might anonymously begin a damaging rumor just to witness what happens. Bullies are all similar to one another they don’t care about anyone, like to control others, are often vulnerable, and threaten others to make themselves feel great.
We can help a person who has been bullied by observing if there is any unusual change in behavior or attitude. Try to find out the circumstances and see if these changes usually take place during the use of digital devices or after coming from school, college, or workplace. Don’t sound too inquisitive, but gently engage that person in a conversation. Take him/her into trust and try to understand what is happening, when it all began, and who is all into this act. Immediately file a complaint with the police in case that person is receiving sexual or physical intimidations, or you sense an illegal activity or violation underway.
If you are facing this issue, then ignore the bully and walk away. They normally like to get a response, so just show them you don’t give a damn. Always remember how much ever they provoke you do not get into a physical fight. You are better than them. It may help if you’ll talk to your parents, teachers, or friends or anyone who can give you the aid you require. Avoid being alone, stay with your friends who will back you up. Don’t forget self-confidence is the key to stand up against the bullies. Most people who bully others were once a victim, too. Try to talk to them and make them understand that all human beings are different and no matter what you should respect others.
Cyberbullying, also known as cyberharassment, which happens using electronic means. It is also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly prevalent nowadays, especially among adolescents, as technology had advanced and the digital sphere has broadened. Cyber bullying occur on platforms like social media, chat rooms, and gaming sites where people can see and participate in sharing of content.
Cyber bullying is said to be happen, when someone bullies or harasses others on the internet and other digital spaces, usually on social media sites.
Cyber bullying behaviour involves posting threats, rumors, hateful comments on online platforms/apps, or via SMS or messaging in order to cause humiliation to other users. It includes posting, sending or sharing negative, Unpleasant or false information about an individual for causing humiliation and character assassination. It also involves posting threats, a victim’s personal information, hate speech or sexual remarks to someone on the internet.
Types of Cyber Bullying
An awareness of the different types of Cyberbullying is important. This helps parents and young adults to report cyber bullying and adopt various measures for the same. Following are some of the common types of cyber harassment:
• Trolling has become increasingly prevalent in these days and is the most common form of bullying that happens in an online community. This is done to evoke a reaction or disruption, or sometimes, even for personal amusement.
• Cyberstalking is another type of bullying or harassment which involves electronic communications to stalk a victim; this may tend to be threatening to the victim.
• posting an embarrassing or unpleasant photo/video.
• faking identity online
• issuing online threats to hurt or provoke someone.
• posting hate comments or content triggering religious, racial, ethnic or political malice.
• Also Doxing, it is a practice common on the internet where personal information about an individual is reasearched and published. One finds out information from the person’s social media and other online platforms. It is then used for online defamation, harassment or other forms of cyber bullying.
Cyber Bullying in India
Cyber bullying in India had increased prominently since availability of affordable data services and social media presence has increased. According to a research by Symantec, almost 8 out of 10 individuals are exposed to different types of internet bullying in India. Most of the victims are generally women and teenagers.
The same study categorises India as the country facing the highest cyber bullying in the Asia Pacific region, more than Australia and Japan.
Special Concerns
with the widespread presence of digital forums, social media websites, posts, comments, content shared by individual can be seen by strangers as well as acquaintances. Whatever content the individual shares online, be it personal or public, creates a kind of public record of their activities, views and behaviour. this can basically represents their personality, which may be accessible to schools, employers, college, clubs, and other institutions who may be researching an individual now or in the future. Cyberbullying can tamper the reputation of everyone involved, not just the the person being bullied but also those who are participating in the bullying.
What can you do?
Ask for help: if you are experiencing any distress related to online bullying, reach out to someone for help. It maybe your friend, relative, colleague or someone you trust.
Use the technology to cut off the Bully: almost every social media site allows you to report or block someone. They also enable you to report inappropriate content or behaviour.
Protect your Accounts: passwords are your private information. never share your passwords with anyone no matter who the person might be. Password protect your phone so that no one can use it for impersonation.
Report Cyber Bullying: The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a helpline to report cyber bullying/harassment, cyber defamation, especially for women and children as they are subject to cyberbullying the most. most institutions also have special faculty of development whom you may report to, about the bullying.
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