BSMT2A

LAZARTE, Louise Gabrielle A.

Although technology and the internet have great benefits especially in connecting
people all over the world, it has its own risks and disadvantages such as cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying has been around for several years when social media and the internet
became popular. It is a form of bullying in social media and the internet by posting and
sending harmful messages to the victim as a form of repeated harassment and the cases
for cyberbullying are continually growing. It does not just affect the person in cyber, but it
can also affect the life of the victim outside the cyber specifically their ability to socialize.
Victims tend to have a problem with getting along with others and forming relationships
because of their trust and behavioral issues since they are more likely to engage in vices
like alcohol and drugs. Furthermore, victims suffer long-term psychological effects of
cyberbullying since it can happen in their own home at any time of the day, victims do not
have their safe space anymore compared to traditional bullying which they can get away
when they go home. Thus, victims’ mental health tends to deteriorate which increases the
risks for depression and suicide. Moreover, it affects their self-esteem that could
eventually influence their performance in work or school which would lead to feeling
worthless and hopelessness especially when a huge amount of people can witness the
bullying and their humiliation. Even though it is difficult to imagine any good that comes
from something so offensive, cyberbullying still has its own advantages. Victims would be
empowered to stand for themselves since they are in the comfort of their home which can
improve their courage to call out their bully. Furthermore, because it is done in the cyber,
the victims could have solid proof about the bullying which they can give to authorities or
school to take actions. It can also provide important information to the parents regarding
their children such as addictions, vices, and so forth to be able to seek early intervention
to address the problems. Cyberbullying could be advantageous for the businesses since
the customers would be able to tell the problems with the services or products unlike
before when they would not provide feedbacks instead, they would just stop using the
products or services.

Cyberbullying will be acceptable and should not tolerate whether the bully is a
minor or senior and up until now, it is still prevalent in our country regardless of the law.
People tend to be brave when it comes to cyberbullying because of the anonymity and
bullies think that the victim would take action regarding the bullying which is why bullies
continue to harass the victim and post any harmful think without thinking of the
consequences of the action. I believe that kind of mindset is twisted because they do not
see the victims as humans who can also feel and think. Moreover, we should be mindful
of what we post or send in social media and the internet even though it was a joke or just
following the trend, it might drive people to commit suicide and we would carry the guilt
throughout our lives. There is no reason for us to cyberbully people even though we hate
or just because they have a different perspective than us. We should always think that
the effects of cyberbullying are long-term, and it does not go away easily, we should put
ourselves in their shoes. In that way, we can learn how to treat other people and how to
use the internet in a proper way that does not harm or negatively affect others.
Furthermore, I have never cyberbullied or tried to send/post hate messages to other
people even in anonymity, I would rather isolate myself from others rather than to conform
in normalizing and tolerating cyberbullying. It is important to take cyberbullying seriously
especially when the internet already became an important part of our lives and society
because it is an assault that would continue to rob the victims their self-worth and self-
esteem which is why we are oblige to act and spread awareness regarding this issue.