GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Candidate NAME: Nishath Khan

CENTRE NO: IN710

CENTER NAME : Arsha Vidya Mandir

CANDIDATE NO:

SUBJECT CODE: IN710

TOPIC: Digital World

QUESTION: How does cyberbullying affect the mental health of teens?

Introduction
When a person is mistreated through their cell phones or other devices such as social
media, the individual is hurt. This can also be characterized as using modern technologies
to annoy or threaten someone. It is rapidly expanding these days. When the internet was
first discovered, people began to believe that if they bullied others through social media,
they would not be detected by adults. There are many types of bullying, like physical
bullying. Verbal bullying, Relational bullying, Cyberbullying, Sexual bullying, and prejudicial
bullying. This is when cyberbullying became prevalent. Many people found this strategy
to be more convenient than verbal bullying as it is done anonymously . As a result, it
became more than just verbal bullying. Cyberbullying is more prevalent among teenagers
who are new to social media. It can also be done to revenge on someone they despise.

Why did I choose this topic ?

As we have heard this term, Bullying is defined as the use of force, compulsion, or
threat to abuse, aggressively dominate, or intimidate another person. It is the act of
repeating violent conduct in order to physically, mentally, or emotionally harm
another person. Every year, we hear or read in the news about many youngsters
who commit themselves as a result of bullying. It began in physical form and is
now available through technological means. The new generation often uses social
networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr, among others,
to quickly and continually engage with others. Bullies are now adopting this
medium to harass their victims and send threatening comments in order to scare
them. Viewing these cases and also cyberbullying had taken over the headlines I
thought of researching how their mental health is affected due to this. This is why I
chose this topic.

Global Perspective
Bullying or harassment that takes place online is known as cyberbullying or
cyberharassment. Online bullying also refers to cyberbullying and
cyberharassment. As the digital environment has grown and technology has
improved, it has become more and more prevalent, especially among youth.
There are several weird tales that ended in suicide. According to the National
Adolescents Violence Prevention Resource Center, close to 30% of American
youth are either bullies or are the targets of bullies. Bullying is becoming a
widespread issue that extends beyond schoolyards, halls, and cafeterias. Instead,
because to technological advancements, harassment is now now available on
mobile devices, social media platforms, and other online sources, which is
increasing the alarmingly high number of cyberbullying instances that result in
suicide. Some of the cases which has led to suicide are :-

United States, Missouri

Megan Meier Case:- 2006 case

The non-profit Megan Meier Foundation was established by Tina Meier in

December 2007. The foundation is named in honor of Tina's 13-year-old daughter,
who committed herself by hanging herself in her bedroom closet in October 2006 it
was because of cyberbullying because of abusive texts sent by her freind. Along
with her weight problems, Megan also battled depression and attention deficit
disorder. A 16-year-old teenager named Josh Evans contacted Megan on the social
networking site MySpace around five weeks before her passing. Although they
never met in person or chatted on the phone, the two started exchanging messages
on a daily basis online. "And now she had a boy who she actually thought was
lovely," Megan remarked. Josh started telling Megan he didn't want to be friends
anymore in the middle of October, and on October 16, 2006, his messages become
crueller by concluding, "The world would be a better place without you," When
more students and friends started posting alarming remarks and announcements on
MySpace, the cyberbullying got worse.
United States of America

Tyler Clementi Case 2010 Case :-

After graduating from high school, Tyler Clementi, then 18 years old, started
coming out during the summer. Dharun Ravi, Clementi's roommate during his first
year at Rutgers University, broadcast video of Clementi kissing another man in
September 2010. The boy discovered through his roommate's Twitter page that he
had become "a topic of mockery in his new social circle," according to the Tyler
Clementi Foundation. Clementi committed himself by jumping from the George
Washington Bridge on September 22, 2010. Ravi and Molly Wei, the roommate
whose computer Ravi used to spy on Clementi, were charged with invasion of
privacy less than a week after Clementi's passing.This case had brought the
national and internal countries attention.

Cannada

Amanda Todd Case 2012 case:-

In Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Amanda Michelle Todd, a 15-year-old Canadian
student who had been the target of cyberbullying, hung herself. Todd used a series of
flashcards in a video that was uploaded to YouTube prior to her passing to describe how she
had been tormented and physically beaten as well as how she had been coerced into showing
her breasts on camera. After she passed away, the video became viral, attracting the attention
of international media. As of February 2022, the video received more than 14 million views.
Aydin Coban, a Dutch-Turkish man already serving time in jail for sexual extortion in the
Netherlands, was extradited to Canada to stand prosecution for allegedly harassing and
extorting Todd before she committed suicide. “Todd was taunted by other students at her
school for her low grades, a consequence of a language-based learning disability, and for the
time she spent in the hospital to treat her severe depression.”
National Perspective

Cyberbullying cases are on the rise in India right now. However, the number of reported
instances is not proportional to the actual number of cases because 9.2% of the children
did not disclose being bullied to their instructors or parents. According to Child Rights
and You (CRY), one in every three adults is bullied on a daily basis, with the majority of
them being between the ages of 13 and 18. According to the National Crime Records
Bureau, cyberstalking and cyberbullying instances in India have increased by 36%.
Cyberbullying has become a modern crime in India. In 2014. A 15-year-old female
student was in class 10 who committed suicide as she was bullied. “For a lot of children,
turning to bullying often stems from coping issues and is seen as a way to gain power,
experts said." While this used to happen in school or on the playground, where it was
easy to catch, victims of cyberbullying frequently do not speak up because they believe
they should be able to handle the situation.

1. Cyberbullying in Delhi: In 2019, a 14-year-old boy in Delhi committed

suicide after being bullied online by his classmates. He was subjected to
body shaming and name-calling on a WhatsApp group. The police
arrested the six students involved in the cyberbullying incident.
2. Cyberbullying in Kolkata: In 2018, a 16-year-old girl in Kolkata was
harassed and threatened by her ex-boyfriend on social meuidia. He
hacked her Facebook account and posted abusive messages and images.
The girl approached the police and the cybercrime cell arrested the boy
under the IT Act.
3. Cyberbullying in Maharashtra: In 2020, a Mumbai-based musician and
influencer was cyberbullied for her body size and skin color. She
received hate messages and trolling on Instagram and YouTube. She
spoke up about her experience and urged her followers to stop
cyberbullying.
4. Cyberbullying in Tamil Nadu: In 2019, a 15-year-old girl from a village
in Tamil Nadu was cyberbullied for expressing her opinions on caste
 discrimination. She received death threats and abusive messages on
Facebook and WhatsApp. The police tracked down the culprits and
arrested them.
5. Cyberbullying in Kerala: In 2021, a college student in Kerala was bullied
online by his college mates for posting a video of himself dancing on
Instagram. He was mocked for his sexual orientation and faced
homophobic comments. The incident was reported to the college and
the police.

Personal Perspective
In my perspective the cases which we have seen cyber bulling has been a rising
case around the world also in our country India. In my Perspective cyber bullying
can be emotionally damaging, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal
thoughts. These Bullies can hide behind the anonymity of the internet, making it
harder for authorities to track them down and provide justice to the victim but as
the world is changing day by day the securities are being tightened in the Internet
and strict actions are being taken by the Government. I think as a society, we need
to take a stand against cyber bullying by raising awareness about its harmful
effects and educating people about how to prevent and respond to it. Parents can
also play an active role in protecting their children from online predators and
monitoring their online activities. In conclusion, Cyber bulling is an rising issue in
today’s world.

Possible Scenario
A group of bullies create a fake social media profile and pretends to be
someone who may be knowing them very closely. They post embarrassing
photos, make derogatory comments, and send hurtful messages to other
victims. The victim, unaware of the fake profile, is confused when fellow
people start ostracizing them and posting negative comments on their social
media accounts. The bullying intensifies, causing the victim to become
anxious and depressed, leading to a decline in their academic performance,
social life and also feel lonely and not able to chat with others. Eventually,
the victim discovers the fake profile and reports it to the authorities, who may
or may not intervenes and puts a stop to the bullying. However, if the cyber
bulling has been solved, and the victim will have to deal with the long-term
effects of the cyber bullying.

Course of Action
1. Stay calm and don't retaliate: The worst thing you can do is to respond
with the same negativity. It will just escalate the situation and could
lead to more abuse.
2. Document the evidence: Take screenshots and save any offensive
messages or posts. Keep a record of the time and date of each incident.
3. Block the bully: Blocking or unfollowing the bully will prevent them
from contacting you further.
4. Report the incident: Report the bullying to the relevant authorities, such
as the school, the social media platform, or the police.
5. Talk to someone: If you're feeling upset or overwhelmed, it's important
to talk to someone you trust. A friend, a family member, or a counselor
can give you the support you need.
6. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Eat
well, exercise, and spend time doing things you enjoy
7. Create Awareness through the social media platform make posters to
display on the road.