Stopping Cyber Bullying

If you are someone who likes to keep updated with the latest news and current events then you are probably aware of the growing concern today over cases of cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying is basically when an instigator (the bully) taunts and torments his victim through social networking sites such as Facebook. Since cyber-bullying offers the comfort of anonymity, the bullying usually reaches serious levels that can even sometimes lead to the victim committing suicide. Last February alone, a 15-year-old girl killed herself on a train railway after she was endlessly tormented by other children. To make matters worse, even the Facebook page that was set up for her homage was flooded with vicious and offensive comments. This is only the latest case in the long list of suicides that have been related to Facebook bullying.

Why do people commit cyber-bullying?

Bullying has been in existence even before Facebook and social networking

sites. However, concerned parents and experts agree that cyber-bullying has taken the practice of bullying to a whole new different level—to the point that bullying victims resort to taking their own lives. There are many reasons why bullies prefer to torment their victims in Facebook and other social networking sites. Cyber-bullying also attracts other instigators. Individuals who would otherwise remain as spectators in real-life cases of bullying can now feel free to “join in”. Unfortunately, instead of mediating, these individuals often take part in tormenting the victim.

What are examples of cyber-bullying?

Cyber-bullying can take on many forms. If you are a concerned parent with a child who is active on Facebook then you should be aware of the forms of cyber-bullying so you can put a stop to them immediately. One type of cyber-bullying is when the victim receives offensive messages in her email or Facebook account. Some cyber-bullies will also spread malicious rumors about their victim on Facebook. Since Facebook has an incredibly wide reach, it will only take little time for the rumor to reach hundreds of people. The victim will then experience ostracizing, taunting and teasing from her peers online and in the real world.

There are also cases where cyber-bullies will make fake Facebook profiles of their victims and use offensive photos and information.

How can cyber-bullying be stopped?

Because of the gravity of cyber-bullying today, most schools have actively started anti-bullying programs and campaigns to prevent further bullying tragedies. However, due to the fact that there are no state laws against cyber-bullying, it is still difficult to punish perpetrators. Damage control is largely left to the schools, the victim’s family and the victims themselves. The best way to handle a cyber-bullying case is to avoid responding to the bully. Angry responses and other forms of participation are exactly what the bully wants. Instead, the victim should just collect evidence of the cyber-bullying and bring this evidence to the proper authorities who can put a stop to the bully’s actions.