Cyberbullying Among Teens Essay Example

Cyberbullying has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and technology has advanced, making victims of cyberbullying more likely to incur alcohol, use drugs, and skip school. There is no doubt that technology has a lot of benefits; however, it also comes with a negative side. It has given birth to cyberbullying. To put it simply, cyberbullying refers to the misuse of information technology with the intention to harass others (Zilles, 2016). Subsequently, cyberbullying comes in various forms. It doesn’t necessarily mean hacking someone’s profile or posing to be someone else. It also includes posting negative comments about somebody or spreading rumors to defame someone. As everyone is caught up on social networks, it makes it very easy for anyone to misuse access. In other words, cyberbullying has become very common nowadays. The problem is even worse among teenagers, where social acceptance is such an important part of the adolescent experience. According to Bouchrika (2021), “A whopping 87 percent of teens have witnessed some form of cyberbullying during adolescents and 34 percent of teens have been the actual victims of cyberbullying” (paras. 3). The hostile actions of others that make up these heart-wrenching statistics are extremely damaging and can affect anyone easily and gravely. They take place on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and other online information websites. A cyberbully is not necessarily a stranger; it may also be someone you know. Cyberbullying is a multi-faced issue. However, the intention of this activity is one and the same: to hurt people and bring them harm. Cyberbullying is not a light matter. It needs to be taken seriously as it does have a lot of dangerous effects on the victim. Moreover, it disturbs the peace of mind of a person. Many people are known to experience many mental health issues such as depression, body dysmorphia, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and many other problems after they are cyberbullied. In addition, they indulge in self-harm. All the derogatory comments made about them makes them feel inferior. It also results in a lot of insecurities and complexes. The victim, which suffers cyberbullying in the form of harassment, starts having self-doubt. When someone points at your insecurities, they only tend to enhance. Similarly, the victims worry and lose their inner peace. Other than that, cyberbullying also tarnishes the image of a person. It hampers their reputation with the false rumors spread about them. Everything on social media spreads like wildfire. Moreover, people often question credibility. Thus, one false rumor destroys people’s lives. Cyberbullying prevention is the need of the hour. Awareness is the key to preventing online harassment. Unfortunately, in the modern world, it is clear that cyberbullying among teens is a problem that’s here to stay as long as we have social media.