Cyberbullying Survival Guide

CYBERBULLYING SURVIVAL GUIDE A quick guide to help protect against cyberbullying.

Student Edition • •

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

DESCRIPTION...................................................................1

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CASE IN POINT.................................................................2

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HOW TO SPOT CYBERBULLYING....................................3

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU FALL VICTIM.................................5

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DESCRIPTION

Cyberbullying may be defined as the wilful and repeated harm inflicted through using electronic devices and software. Cyberbullying refers to the incidents where a threat agent uses technology to threaten, harass, humiliate, or otherwise disturb someone. For example, children may send hurtful texts to others or spread rumours using mobile devices. Children have also created web pages, videos, and other profiles on social media platforms, making fun of others. In some cases, adolescents have taken pictures with mobile devices, in locations where privacy is anticipated, and posted or distributed these pictures online. Others have recorded unauthorised videos of their peers and uploaded them for the world to see, rate, tag, or discuss. Others are using anonymous apps or the interactive capabilities on gaming networks to tear down or humiliate others.

CYBE R BU L L Y I N G

Some Negative Effects: There are many negative outcomes associated with cyberbullying that reach into the real world. First, many victims report feeling depressed, sad, angry, and frustrated. Those who are victimised also reveal that they are often afraid or embarrassed to go to school. Research has also revealed a link between cyberbullying and low self-esteem, family problems, academic difficulties, school violence, and various delinquent behaviours. Finally, cyberbullied children also report having suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, there have been numerous examples worldwide where youth who were victimised ended up taking their own lives.

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CASE IN POINT

This is not a phenomenon that is only happening overseas or in movies. Cyberbullying has been happening in Africa for some time, and the continent is taking some time to put proper measures and laws to mitigate against this. The public is sometimes not aware that this is silently killing the youth.

Below are some causes and effects of cyberbullying in South Africa: In September 2010, an article was published in The Guardian about a gay university student who was filmed having sexual intercourse with another man. Tyler Clementi, a first-year student at Rutgers University in New Jersey, asked his roommate, Dharun Ravi, to step out until midnight as he needed some space. Dharun then left to join his friend in the same corridor. He then accessed his computer through his friend’s computer and turned on the webcam that he had positioned before he left. He proceeded to record the entire sexual encounter. Dharun would later post the video online. Unbeknown to Tyler, the incident was repeated twice. After being mocked, Tyler took an hour’s drive and posted on his Facebook wall “Jumping off the gw bridge sorry” and jumped off the George Washington Bridge to his death (The Guardian 2010).

At the beginning of 2019, a thirteen-year-old girl fell victim to cyberbullying. There was a picture that started to circulate on school WhatsApp groups. Pupils continuously teased her because of a picture until it came to the point that she was scared to go to school. Her mother had to intervene and talk to the principal, insisting her daughter remained at home. Sadly, the young teenager was overwhelmed and ended up taking her own life (Sunday Times, 2019).

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HOW TO SPOT CYBERBULLYING

If someone you know displays a change in mood or behaviour, the first step is to talk to them. It may be a sign of something more serious than you think. Usually, children or young adults experiencing cyberbullying will avoid group activities or events that they used to enjoy. Furthermore, these people will appear to be anxious when receiving a text, image, or email in most cases.

Help educate your friends and family. Teach them to stand up against bullying. If they see it taking place online, show them that they can make a huge impact by speaking up. If they are going through it, teach them how to block the bully and explain the importance of deleting messages without reading them.

Your Role as a Witness to Cyberbullying The best thing for you to do if you witness someone being cyberbullied is to provide support and report it to the necessary channels. Often students do not realise they are adding fuel to the fire by liking, reacting, and sharing the inappropriate content. If students are careful about what they do on social media, this will result in less bullying. One must put themselves in the victim’s shoes and think about how they would feel if someone would post material and say ugly things about them. Bullies thrive on amusing themselves and others at the expense of others. People need to stand up to bullies and call them out. Do the little you can, as it may save a life.

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Cyberbullying of Adults Even though cyberbullying is often associated with the youth, it is important to remember that anyone can become a victim. The terms “Drag”, “Outed”, and “Roast” are now used to denote that someone is being bullied on social media.

There are different kinds of cyberbullying that adults face, and below are some types that adults experience on social media: •

Body shaming.

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Sharing and reposting private and intimate videos, audios, and images of someone without their permission.

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Mocking how someone speaks a particular language.

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Threats.

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Sexual harassment.

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Revenge porn.

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Hacking.

Bullying in any form is bad and has detrimental consequences, such as lowering someone’s selfesteem and even leading to suicide in extreme cases. Everyone has the responsibility of making sure that their online environments are safe.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU FALL VICTIM

1. Talk to Someone Whether a victim of physical bullying or cyberbullying, talk to someone about what you are going through.

2. Do Not Respond to Offending Posts and Messages By responding, you are entertaining the perpetrator, and as such, they may take that as a challenge to do more harm.

3. Report the Bully to the Institution Most institutions will have procedures in place to deal with bullies.

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Below are South African resources that members of the public can confidentially use: o South African Police Services: 10111 or 086 001 0111 o Childline: 080 005 5555 o The Department of Social development: 012 312 7500 o Lifeline: 011 728 1347 o National Prosecuting Authority: 012 845 6000 o Legal Aid South Africa: 011 877 2000 o The Department of Basic Education: 0800 202 933 o The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development: 012 315 1111#

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