Cyber Bullying

With the advent of the Internet, more and more young people are partaking of social media to communicate with family and friends. Although social media has many positive aspects, one very real downside is the risk of cyber bully attacks. Cyber bullies use Internet technology to launch such attacks as spreading lies and gossip, slandering a person’s reputation and threatening to do others harm.

There are many examples of bullying on the Net. One of the most common is sending emails containing false rumors about others. Posting embarrassing pictures or videos of others on the Net is yet another example of bullying. A technology savvy cyber bully can do a lot of damage to a person’s reputation by invading their social media accounts, websites and email accounts and posting incriminating or false information that puts the victim in a bad light. In the case of high school or college students, cyber bullying can destroy a person’s friendships, tarnish his reputation, cause him to lose respect from peers and even endanger opportunities of employment or advancement in his career.

Many social sites now come with privacy options that can help protect people from cyber bullying attacks. It’s important that young people with social media accounts learn how to use these options to protect themselves from bullies and other types of cyber attacks. Parents can also take precautions by monitoring their pre-teen or young teen’s online activities to ensure their kids are safe from bullying incidents.

In order for bullying to cease, it must be combated on all fronts. Parents, children, teens and teachers need to work together to rid their schools and communities of bullying attacks. A stance against bullying is the first step towards cultivating greater respect between individuals and enhancing today’s educational and moral standards.