One of the downsides to social media is that it gives people the opportunity to harass and bully others remotely and anonymously. Instances of cyberbullying have become increasingly widespread, among children, young people and adults. But how do cyberbullies operate and what steps can be taken to prevent you from becoming a victim of online abuse?
What is cyberbullying?
Simply put, cyberbullying is any type of harassing behavior or abuse carried out by someone who uses social media and technology to reach their victim. While children and teenagers can be especially susceptible to cyberbullying, people of all ages can be victims. In 2021, around 40% of US adults reported being a victim of online abuse. Incidents ranged from name-calling and embarrassment through to physical threats and sexual harassment. Examples of cyberbullying include:
Trolling: Derogatory, offensive or controversial comments made on social media and other online forums.
Mobbing: A group of people ganging up to target an individual with online abuse and victim shaming.
Stalking: Bombarding the victim with unwanted communications via text messages and social media.
Doxxing: Revealing sensitive or identifying information about an individual, such as their physical address.
Grooming: Tricking or coercing the victim into sexual activity, such as sharing graphic images or meeting in person.
At the most serious level, cyberbullying can have tragic consequences, especially when it involves children. However, other impacts can include loss of reputation, career damage, poor mental health, and relationship breakdown.
Cyberbullying perpetrators can be known to the victim or they may remain anonymous, making it harder to stop the abuse. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to lessen the chances of being targeted by cyberbullies.
How to prevent cyberbullying
Other than avoiding social media and online interaction altogether, which is unrealistic for most people, ways to avoid becoming a victim of cyberbullying include:
1. Making use of privacy settings: Frequently check the privacy controls on any social media platforms or sites that you use and adjust the settings to limit who has access to your profile, personal data and posts to reduce what potential cyberbullies can see.
2. Minimizing the personal information you share online: Think twice before revealing personal details online as the information can be used by cyberbullies, and you might even consider taking steps to remove your personal information from the internet.
3. Being careful about the content you post: Anything you share online can potentially be used by cyberbullies, whether a social media post that invites comment or a compromising image that is later used in a damaging way to embarrass or blackmail you.
If you or someone you know does become a victim of cyberbullying, it is important to report the behavior to the social media platform or website. Preserve any evidence and block the perpetrator. If the behavior is serious, it might also be appropriate to report it to law enforcement. Stalking, sexual harassment or grooming, and physical threats are examples of cyberbullying rising to the level of criminal activity.
Overall, by remaining vigilant about your social media activity and controlling your online footprint, you can lessen the possibility that you will become a target of cyberbullies.
