Hi guys, hope you’re having a great day!So, today’s post is a lot more serious – it’s going to be advice on how to deal with cyber bullying. I think I forgot to mention in my previous post that I will probably be doing some advice-type stuff on my blog, but I think it’s a good idea to try and spread positive messages across the Internet.
As most of us know, being bullied in the flesh is terrible; it’s like a hell that you can’t escape from, like being trapped inside a locked cupboard. But online? That can be a million times worse. Gosh, in real life the bullies are usually just sad losers who have nothing better to do with their lives, and yet online things can get way more personal. Even people who never speak much in real life go flying straight off the handle on the Internet – often anonymously.
What about the stats? Well, around half of teens have been victims of cyber-bullying; only 1 in 10 of these teens tell their parents about the incident; girls are at least as likely as boys to be the victim/bully; 3 million kids are absent per month due to bullying; 20% of people being cyber-bullied consider suicide; and cyber-bullying concerns rose by 87% in 2013 alone.
So, you’ve probably had so many lectures at school about how dangerous the online world can be, and although the advice teachers give you is 100% valid and should be followed, today I’m going to clear this whole business up a bit for you by telling you about a REAL-LIFE cyber-bullying incident and what the victim could/should have done to protect herself and put a stop to it.
13 year-old Megan had ADD, and in the past had suffered from depression and weight problems. One day a teenage boy whom she didn’t know, Josh, requested to follow her on MySpace. She agreed, and every day after school she would talk to him. He made her happy, telling her she was pretty; he said he was home schooled and had no access to mobiles, therefore she never met him or heard his voice.
However, things took a turn for the worse. Josh and some other teenagers began to post horrible comments about her on the website. But Megan fired back with vulgar language, making her mum shocked at her: the next morning her parents found her, having hanged herself in the closet just before turning fourteen.
What should Megan have done? Well, firstly she shouldn't have accepted Josh's friend request, as he could have been anyone! By doing this, she was opening a virtual door and letting him walk around inside her world.
Also, she shouldn't have talked to him. You wouldn't talk to strangers in real life, so why online? When Josh and his friends started upsetting her, she should have firstly NOT retaliated. Then she should have told her parents or other responsible adult; she could block the bullies and report them to the social network.
More tips:
1. Keep your profile private.
2. Don't tag photos with a location.
3. Don't arrange to meet up with someone you met online.
4. Don't give strangers personal details.
5. Make sure you save evidence of cyber bullying to show an adult.
6. It's best to use a nickname rather than a real name on social networks.
7. Don't post pictures of yourself you wouldn't be happy with showing your parents. Think before you post!
8. Install an antivirus program and never click on weird links in emails etc!
Life Randomness Music
Xoxo
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