Bullying on Social Media and Mental Health: How to Deal With It
Social media is an incredible tool. It allows us to build a connection with other people from all over the world, share our thoughts and feelings about things, and even find support for people who may be having a tough time.
At the same time, social media can also serve as a very lonely place. As we already know, there are different types of communication out there, some more polite than others. This has made it easier for cyber bullies to make their presence felt on social media.
Social media has become a breeding ground for all kinds of online abuse. Unfortunately, this is something that we've come to accept as the norm for modern life. Bullies have always existed – now they just have a platform with which to act out their rage and sad behavior.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like smartphones, laptops, etc. Cyberbullying can involve text messages, social media content, gaming, online forums and apps. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
Social media is a behemoth that's altering the way we communicate, but do we understand its impact on mental health? Social Media Bullying is an issue that's been talked about by psychologists and even celebrities. The negative comments and attention can cause mental stress and lower self-esteem. Some studies have found that it can lead to anxiety, aggressive behavior, loss of sleep, suicidal thoughts, and depression in adolescents.
How to deal with cyberbullying
Report the incident and block the user
Many social media platforms feature tools that can be useful in these circumstances. Report and block offensive profiles and groups using these options.
Share feelings and seek help
Cyberbullying can feel extremely scary. Reach out to your family and friends for emotional support, without fear of shaming.
Do not retaliate or respond
If someone is being unreasonable and offensive online, don't respond to them. Provoking you may be exactly what the abuser is looking for. By not paying them attention to them will deprive them of this satisfaction and might prevent the situation from escalating.
Don't post identifying information online
This is extremely important. Never share personal information with strangers or on public forums, including geotagging your posts. Having your harassers know where you live or hang out can quickly turn cyber bullying into a dangerous situation.
Education
Parents, educators, and counselors can help kids prevent online bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.
Psychopathic cyberbullying can push people into deep mental health crises and even lead to Suicide in Teenagers. Researchers have confirmed that online bullying has debilitating effects and that proactive internet practices, solidarity, and reporting abusers can help decrease the toxic effects of online bullying.