QUESTION
Hi Amanda!
What’s up? Honestly, I need your advice right now. These days, I feel anxious and concerned. My head is spinning. Somebody has posted my photographs on a fatty girl meme. I suspect someone from my class may have done so.
Although some of my Instagram photos have been labeled fat, chubby, and whatnot, I find this very insulting. I don’t know how I’m going to tell my parents.
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Is there anything you can suggest that I can do to prevent cyberbullying? It would be a great help.
Thank you!
Josie
ANSWER
Hi, Josie.
I understand how challenging it is to deal with situations like this. Traditionally, bullying was seen as after-school fights or shady deals for meals. Nowadays, cyberbullying occurs via social media, e-mail, and text messages.
In the era of the internet, bullying has increased because it facilitates rapid distribution without taking it back or wiping it. Sadly, even a petty playground argument can spiral out of control and end in tragedy.
Here’s what we can do to stop cyberbullying in its tracks.
1. Replying with a nasty post will only make the situation worse. Try to be polite or don’t reply to those comments in the first place. It will only hurt your feelings if you argue with them. Let the bully slide. After all, who wants to be that low?
2. Never take insults personally or doubt your views or beliefs when people make rude comments about you. You are not to blame for someone else’s rude remarks. More often than not, these remarks are a reflection of a person’s issues.
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3. You should not reread the offending comments. Continuing to read them will only further enrage you. If there are any offensive comments, do not hesitate to report them to the moderation team.
4. Be mindful that not everyone shares the same beliefs or viewpoints. Take the time to consider what other people have to say. Quite a few people may have valid points to add. In many cases, what appears to be a rude comment is merely just someone expressing their views.
5. Take a 30-second break after every rude comment. If you have written something but have not posted it, take 30 seconds to step away from your computer or phone. Once you get back, look at what you wrote and imagine how it would make you feel if someone wrote it to you.
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6. Take a breather from technology. Take a night off of your computer and phone. Taking a relaxing bath, eating a delicious meal, or meditating are all good ways to rejuvenate your mind.
7. Block your bully. Make a block list of phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and social media handles. TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram – all three of these apps make it easy to mute and block harassers.
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8. We don’t have to become victims or perpetrators of bullying because of technology. We can prevent both from happening when we are considerate and conscientious about our online actions.
9. Keep a record of the bully. If you are going to block a bully or delete unwanted comments and messages, be sure to print out physical copies of them. (If you do not have a printer, do screenshots and save them for future use.) It is necessary to keep your evidence in case further information is required.
10. Let an adult you trust, such as your parent or guardian, be informed of your situation. You can contact your local cyberbullying team if you have been cyberbullied.
11. Choosing to make your social media profiles private or friend-only is another good practice. It makes tracking and identifying bullies easier. It is rather common for bullies to hide behind anonymous or “puppet” accounts only to avoid getting caught.
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Whether it’s on the playground or online, bullying never goes away. Even though cyberbullying may never end, you don’t have to stand there and take it. However, there are ways to combat it either way.
Bullied people must take action and make bullying unacceptable. Don’t let bullies get to you; speak up for yourself.
Fighting!
Amanda
