With the increasing popularity of online anonymity, it comes as no surprise that social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been the main sources for Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as “the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.” This seemingly impenetrable security blanket, known as the anon, has provided individuals with a false sense of power. Instead of using their anonymity to better others, for example protesting the recent surge in police brutality against African American men, many are instead using their clandestine identities to harass certain individuals.
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 1 in 3 U.S students say they have been bullied. Recently, countless students at our institution have taken to an anonymous Twitter/Facebook site to voice their opinions about others. These remarks, which are often sexist, homophobic, and threatening are posted daily with the intention of causing emotional harm. And it’s not just on our campus; Cyberbullying is a global issue. The following information was taken from the anti-bullying site known as Ditch and Label. These statistics showcase the percentage of individuals bullied over the social media sites, Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook: of all youths polled, 75% of them use Facebook and 54% of those experienced Cyberbullying.
Twitter: of all youths polled, 43% use Twitter and 28% of them experience Cyberbullying.
Have you or someone you know fallen victim to Cyberbullying? If so, implement these steps into your online-routine:
· Don’t respond, like, or forward Cyberbullying messages.
· Block the person who is Cyberbullying.
· Report Cyberbullying to the social media site so they can take action against users abusing the terms of service.