RD: The Rise Of Cyber-Bullying

Cases of cyber-bullying in the net have definitely increased. This can be due to the increase in technologies which can also be an advantage. Unfortunately, technologies are also being used negatively. When children are the target of bullying via mobiles phones or the internet, they can feel alone and very misunderstood. They may not be able to identify that what is happening to them is a form of bullying, or be confident that the adults around them will understand it that way either. Previously safe and enjoyable environments and activities can become threatening and a source of anxiety. As the use of the internet becomes increasingly common, so has the misuse of this technology to bully.

Cyber-bullies, which are usually teenagers, make use of the internet to taunt other internet users or even their own schoolmates or classmates by posting photos, videos or even by words. For example, Gail Jones, a 15-year-old Briton, committed suicide after receiving, at one point, 20 silent calls on her mobile phone every 30 minutes. When the final call was made she had already died.

These cases of cyber-bullying are much worse than physical bullying as it could reach out to more people and it is more rapid. Physical bullying could only last when the bullies meet the target in person but for cyber-bullies, the source is there on the internet 24/7 and it could not disappear just by turning off the computer as the teens depend on internet to keep in touch with their peers. The cyber-bullies could also address themselves as anonymous and in this case it’s difficult for the targets to find out who are taunting them causing them frustrations, leading to suicide.

I think that we should really try to stop cyber-bullying since if this continues, many of the targets of these bullies will commit suicide causing depression for their parents and other parents as they will worry about their children’s safety on the internet. Parents must play an important role in this matter. They can communicate with their children more often so that their children can be more open to their parents and tell them the problems that they are facing. From there, parents can take further actions to find a solution for the problem and solve it. The best thing to do is to ignore the taunting and worse come to worse make a report to an authorised person. These targets must not be shy or even afraid to approach councillors to talk through about the matter.

By doing this, the cases of suicide can definitely reduced.

Shamsiyah Bte Mohamad Nor(22)