Bullying has been an issue in schools and workplaces around the world for decades. In recent years, however, a new form of bullying has developed - so-called cyberbullying.

This involves harassing, insulting or threatening people via the internet or social media. However, the effects of cyberbullying on victims and perpetrators are controversial.

Is cyberbullying actually worse than regular bullying?

Victim of cyberbullying

Victims cannot simply walk away from the source of the harassment, as is often the case with normal bullying. The internet is ubiquitous and bullying can happen around the clock. Victims often feel helpless and isolated, not knowing who is behind the attacks or how to defend themselves against them. The constant availability of technology can make it difficult to break away from the annoyances and can lead to long-term effects on psychological well-being.

Cyberbullying perpetrators

Perpetrators can hide behind the anonymity of the internet, making it more difficult to identify and hold them accountable. The perpetrators can also organize themselves into groups and bombard the victim with a variety of harassment and insults. This can escalate the situation and cause the victim to feel even more withdrawn and isolated.

Is cyberbullying worse than regular bullying?

It's difficult to say whether cyberbullying is worse than regular bullying because both forms can be traumatic for victims. However, there are some factors that speak for cyberbullying:

  • The bullying can happen anytime and anywhere, making it difficult for victims to break away from the harassment.
  • The anonymity of the Internet can lead to perpetrators becoming bolder and carrying out more serious attacks.
  • The virality of content online can cause bullying content to spread very quickly, further exposing the victim.

Tips for dealing with cyberbullying

  • Talk to your children about cyberbullying and how they can protect themselves.
  • Talk to teachers or supervisors if you notice signs of bullying.
  • Report harassment or abuse to the appropriate platforms or websites.
  • Use parental control software to monitor children's online behavior.
  • Encourage victims to reach out to a trusted adult if they need help.

Cyberbullying and regular bullying can both be traumatic experiences for victims. It is important that we are aware that the Internet is not a legal vacuum and that bullying in any form is unacceptable. We must actively work to ensure that victims of bullying are supported and that perpetrators are held accountable.

Safe media education can help children and young people develop an awareness of how to treat each other respectfully, both online and offline . Parents should take time to talk to their children about the risks of cyberbullying and teach them how to protect themselves from harassment. Teachers and school leaders should ensure that schools provide a safe environment where bullying is not tolerated.

Ultimately, it is up to all of us to actively oppose bullying in all forms and ensure that our children can grow up safe and respectful. It is important that we recognize that both victims and perpetrators of bullying can need help and that we need to work together as a community to solve this problem.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )