Cyberbullying - Transcript
Cyberbullying is when people use the Internet or smartphones to send mean messages to others. It can be very hurtful, and it can also lead to serious problems for the victim.
Bullies often think that what they are doing is not bad because it is happening online and no one is being physically hurt. However, cyberbullying has real-life consequences just like any other kind of bullying. In fact, experts say that cyberbullying may be even more harmful than regular bullying because it happens in private and there are no adults around to stop it.
The most common type of cyberbullying is sending mean text messages or emails using a smartphone or computer. Sometimes people post embarrassing pictures or information about their classmates on websites or in SNS groups.
Victims of cyberbullying usually don’t talk about what is happening because they feel embarrassed. They worry that if others find out what happened, the situation will get worse. Unfortunately, this allows the problem to continue.
When students finally tell their teachers about cyberbullying, the teachers sometimes say there is nothing they can do since no one was physically attacked. But this does not mean that there were no negative effects on the victim. Research shows that victims of cyberbullying experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems, headaches, and trouble concentrating in class. These are the same problems experienced by those who have been bullied face-to-face.
The negative effects of cyberbullying can last a very long time. Children who have been bullied still remember how awful they felt years later! These days there are places online where the victims of cyberbullying can go for help. They can learn what to do when they are cyberbullied and how to get help from teachers and parents.
