How can negative effects of cyberbullying towards teenagers be minimized?

Introduction:
We can describe bullying as a way of hurting someone physically or mentally. Cyberbullying
is a method of bullying online. Teenagers are often cyberbullied for many reasons. “Young
internet users, including students, may be at the mercy of cyber bullies” (Qais, 2011). This
can have a negative outcome. Effects of cyberbullying are the results of being cyberbullied.
Negative effects of cyberbullying are known as the negative outcome from cyberbullying.
“There are some threats for the adolescents in the virtual reality” (Mioara, 2017). If a
teenager is cyberbullied, it is in their nature to worry about it and stress while thinking
about it. They could go into deep depression or have thoughts on suicide resulting in ending
their own life. “Modern technology is like a double-edged sword; on one hand it gives us
connectivity, on the other it increases emotional stress” (Michel, 2011). This problem
cannot be stopped, but certain measures can be taken to minimize the negative effects of
cyberbullying.
Some causes for cyberbullying:
• “Lack empathy for others” ,Nurfarhanah et. al. (2019). Cyber bullying can happen if
the bully does not care about other people’s feelings and wants to hurt others online.
• As ,Nurfarhanah et. al. (2019) suggests, “environmental factors, namely family”. The
bully might cyberbully because of the environment they live in. If it is a violent or ignorant
environment, the bully will be under a bad influence.
• According to (Mioara,2017) Cyberbullies are involving in alcohol. The cyberbullies
might be doing drugs and will bully online after being drunk or if they are ruthless.
• The cyberbully has intentions to harm the victim (Tiffany, 2018). If the cyberbully has
bad blood between the victim, then the cyberbully will want to harm them.
• According to, M Talpur et al. (2018) “Within a group of school bullies, 85.5% were
cyberbully victims.” This suggests that cyber bullies might bully as they were bullied first.

Consequences of cyberbullying:
• According to (Mioara,2017) being involved in cyberbullying has psychological,
emotional and behavioural consequences. If anyone is cyber bullied, it can make them
different and change them. They will act odd and different from their usual selves.
• “Cyberbullying creates suicidal ideation” (Charisse,2014). The victim might want to try and
kill themselves after being cyberbullied. Being cyberbullied can make anyone want to end
their lives.
• “A victim of cyberbullying could start feeling depression.” (Charisse,2014). The victim of
cyberbullying can fall into a deep depression which is unhealthy and dangerous.
• “Many of the cyber victims feel angry and frustrated.” (Mioara,2017). Victims of
cyberbullying can get anger issues and it can make them a more unpleasant character.
• “Victims experience high levels of aggressiveness”, M Talpur et al. (2018). The victim of
cyberbullying could turn out aggressive and will have a high temper.

National perspectives.
Here are three countries that have faced cyberbullying, and how they dealt with it.
• United States
“Cyberbullying is recognized as a critical public health concern in the United States.”
D Espelage et al. (2018). In the US teenagers are suffering cyberbullying rapidly.
“Cyberbullied students were less likely to notify an adult,” D Espelage et al. (2018). As a
result, most of the cyberbullying victims fall into depression since they are not open to their
families. Parents in the US are also advised to monitor their child’s online activities and to
limit their engagement.
• Australia
Australia is a well-known developed country. Despite this, teenagers in Australia are too
being cyber bullied. Though it is an increasing problem, Australian schools pay less attention
to it. “A major 2014 review report for the Australian Government Department of
Communications concluded that, taking into account all the published data on cyberbullying
in Australia, some 20 per cent of 8–17-year-olds experienced cyberbullying” (B Carlson and
R Frazer,2018). “Australia lacks a specific anti-bullying curriculum,” M Campbell et al. (2010).
• Poland
“In Poland, Zych et al. (2017) found that, in a sample of about 900 adolescents, victimization
of any type was reported by 18.7% of the participants,” V Llorent et al. (2021). Poland
children too are suffering from cyberbullying. Polish children are advised to disengage from
online activities if they are cyber bullied and to notify an adult.
Global perspective
“Cyberbullying has become a problem of social harassment in numerous educational
centres worldwide,” E Meneses et al. (2022). Cyber bullying is affecting teenagers all around
the globe and suicidal rates are increasing. Cyberbullying victims in school finds it hard to
focus on studies ad their marks are dropping. This can affect their future and the future on
this earth. Cyber bullying victimization has been rapidly increasing as well.
Reflection
Before beginning my research, I was not aware of cyberbullying having quite a lot of
consequences and negative effects. I now understand that cyberbullying is a dangerous
problem and that it should be minimized as much as possible. There are lots of
consequences and cyberbullying is affecting teenager's lives. Actions must be taken to
minimize cyberbullying.
Courses of action

 Online engagement for teenagers can be minimized.

 Online platforms can be monitored.
 Seminars can be held to raise awareness of the negative effects of cyberbullying.
 Parents can monitor their child's online engagement
 Parents can talk to their children and occasionally ask whether everything is alright.
Evalution of sources
I found research articles from search engines such as google and google scholar. I found
articles from journals such as Research Gate and Community Med journal. I used articles
from the time periods 2010 to 2021.Among the articles that I have read most of them have
been helpful except for a few. The articles that I used have been informative and relative to
the topic cyberbullying and has been very helpful.
Conclusion
Cyberbullying is a deceitful act. Bullying others online for one's satisfaction is certainly a
shame and a cruel thing to do. During my research o found out about all the negative and
horrible effects of cyberbullying. One might find cyberbullying fun, but it is cruel and
dreadful. This problem cannot be completely eradicated but certain measures can be taken
to reduce cyberbullying.
References:

 Dr. Qais Faryadi. (2010), CYBER BULLYING AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, 1(1), 1-5.
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED574784 [Accessed date: 12 Dec 2022]
 Mioara Boca-Zamfir. (2017), PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CYBERBULLYING IN
ADOLESCENCE THEORETICAL ANALYSIS, 1-4.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325929683 [Accessed date: 24 Dec 2022]
 Michel, W. Heirman, W. (2011), Cyber bullying: Predicting Victimisation and
Perpetration, Children & Society, v25,64-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-
0860.2009.00260.x [Accessed date: 3 Jan 2023]
 Nurfarhanah, Afdal, W Andriani, Syahniar, Mudjiran, Daharnis, Alizamar, Z Zikra.
Analysis of the Causes of Cyberbullying: Preliminary Studies on Guidance and Counselling
Media (2019), 372, 2-5
 Tiffany Field. (2018), Cyberbullying: A narrative review, 5-8
https://www.communitymedjournal.com/articles/jatr-aid1007.pdf [Accessed date: 3
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 Charisse L Nixon. (2014). Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on
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[Accessed date: 4 Jan 2023]
 Dorothy L. Espelage, Jun Sung Hong, and Alberto Valido (2018). International
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 Bronwyn Carlson and Ryan Frazer (2018). Cyberbullying and Indigenous Australians,
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279422235 [Accessed date: 7 Jan 2023]
 Vicente J. Llorent, Adriana DiazChaves, Izabela Zych, Estera TwardowskaStaszek and
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 Eloy López-Meneses, Esteban Vázquez-Cano, Mariana-Daniela González-Zamar, and
Emilio Abad-Segura (2020), Socioeconomic Effects in Cyberbullying: Global Research
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