As of January , there are 5. Of this number, 4. Social media and other online platforms or websites can be fun. However, there are downsides to going online. The same people inhabit the online world as the offline one, which means conflicts are inevitable.
Traditional bullies now appear on the Internet, who take pleasure in humiliating others. This phenomenon is called cyberbullying , and the effects of cyberbullying on people, especially young adults, are enormous. So how is cyberbullying different from real-world bullying? What are the effects of cyberbullying? And how can you recognize, help and stop cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying can take many forms, ranging from insults and stalking, to blackmail, online harassment, defamation, and theft of personal data. All forms of cyberbullying can cause psychological trauma to the victim.
It is important to note that cyberbullying is a long and systematic process. A single unflattering or angry comment cannot be considered bullying. Who becomes the aggressor and the victim? As a rule, middle and high school students are more likely to encounter cyberbullying. Nevertheless, this does not mean that any other age group of network users cannot be bullied. The reasons for starting to bully the victim can be completely different, for instance, resentment, envy, or anger.
However, the catalyst for putting work into action is the anonymity and the permissiveness of the Internet environment. This often happens to witnesses of bullying. By humiliating other people and saying hurtful or demeaning things, they intend to join a stronger group or even lead it.
