Stop Your Trolling – Types, Causes and Effects of Cyberbullying 

 Many of us have experienced different forms of bullying in our lives. From rumors, to exclusion to having your belongings stolen or vandalized, we’ve all experienced some form of bullying. One increasingly popular type of bullying is cyberbullying. This is where the activity of harassment and torment is done online via social media, with the use of digital products such as mobile phones, tablets and computers. 

Types of Cyber Bullying:

• Rude comments posted online.
• Threatening messages sent via social media.
• Mocking and humiliating, by posting memes on social media.
• Posting personal information on to online platforms.
• Using fake accounts to taunt and collect private data. 
• Spreading inaccurate information and rumors online. 
• Identity theft 

Causes of Cyber Bullying: 

• Under The Impression That It’s A Norm

Research identifies that people tend to gang up on certain victims, when they see cyberbullies harassing them online is due to the belief they hold that it’s a norm. The bullying activity doesn’t appear significantly harmful to them, as they witness a larger portion of individuals accepting this behavior. 

• Belief That They Won’t Have To Face Any Consequences.  

Cyberbullies may believe that they won’t have to face the consequences for their actions online, due to the anonymity the internet provides them. These cyberbullies may not see how their actions affect the victims, giving them more room to bully without feeling any guilt. Further research proves that children and teenager’s may result to cyberbullying instead of bullying face-to-face for this reason.

•  Lack of Attention

Children and teenagers may cyberbully for attention, resulting to the internet. As they feel that their voice is heard on these online platforms. 

• Seek a form on entertainment

They may look for something entertaining to do and to keep themselves busy, and may take it to the internet to bully others. The activity of cyberbullying may seem thrilling and exciting to them.

• Revenge

When children and teenagers are bullied it could lead to them bullying their bullies or other individuals online, as a coping mechanism. They feel the need to retaliate, for the pain they’ve been put through from their experiences. These children and teenagers do not feel any guilt for their actions, as they believe it’s fair, because they too have been bullied. The cyberbullying activity may give them a sense of justice and relief from their trauma.

• Jealousy and envy

Cyber bullies may bully others based on the social ladder. People may take it to the internet to harass others, when they desire to bring their victim down, due to the social status they identify themselves and their victims as. The cyber bullies may perceive their actions to the victims as deserved and justified, finding it difficult to feel any guilt for their actions.

• Ego and desire for power 

This reason is similar to the one above. Due to the social status one holds, they may tend to feel power-hungry and egotistical, resulting in bullying. These bullies may use online platforms to demonstrate their authority and power over others. These cyber bullies may release inaccurate information about their victims to harass them and mock them, to break the social status the victim has. 

• Lack of Empathy

Sometimes children, teenagers and people may cyberbully without realizing that they are. They may not view the bullying as important and impactful, as they do not see the result of their bullying. Because these bullies don’t see their victims’ pain, they do not feel any guilt for their actions. 

Effects of Cyber Bullying:

The online harassment a victim experiences, could lead to the following:

1. Depression
2. Loneliness
3. Low self-esteem
4. Anxiety disorders
5. Social exclusion
6. Social phobias
7. Reluctance to attend school
8. Poor academic performance
9. Eating disorders
10. Thoughts of suicide. 

ChoKoLAATe Stop Your Trolling is a campaign we have organized, where we identify and discuss ways in which we can address, reduce and stop any and all forms of cyberbullying! 

By Kisavi J.