The Sunday News
Pastor Barbara Meck Silumbu
Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment which involves abusive, offensive and or threatening messages about another person done using digital technologies for example e-mail and social media, messaging platforms, mobile phones. The behaviour targets at scaring, shaming, hurting, threatening, harassing or angering its targets.
Because of Covid-19 and everyone being online these days cyberbullying is on the rise especially among children. It is important to know what to look for in order to help a child or someone who is being bullied.
Signs that a person is being cyberbullied can be any of the following, unexplained aches and pains, anger outbursts, refusing to share info about online activities, refusing to go to school, refusing to do homework or pretending to be ill, being nervous when one receives text instant message or mail, withdrawal from friends and family, having problems sleeping, having panic attacks, self-harming behaviour, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Various ways in which cyberbullying may occur include harassment, sexual harassment, outing and trickery, cyber stalking, exclusion, masquerading, denigration or flaming. Online harassment is an umbrella term used to describe a number of bullying behaviours generally aimed at young people and may involve threats, humiliation or embarrassment in an online setting. It is not just a kid problem but can affect anyone including young adults in high school and college.
Cyber stalking is using technology to harass, threaten or embarrass someone repeatedly by sending a lot of e-mails, a lot of texts on social media or going to multiple websites spreading rumours about someone. Cyber stalkers can say a lot of cruel things online about their victim or solicit for pictures, nude pictures or sex, false accusations, defamation of character, libel or slander.
Common forms of cyber stalking are: computer stalking which is hacking into someone’s computer and taking control of it especially communications. Internet stalking that is spreading rumours on the internet including social media or tracking victims on the web. Email stalking involves sending threats, hurtful, obscene messages via emails or sending viruses or spam.
Cyber mob attacks occurs when a group of people gathers online to shame, embarrass or humiliate a target. Cyber mobs can be very destructive online communities. This is usually a group that forms to carry out an online campaign of hate speech to harass, ridicule, embarrass, threaten, shame a target in response to news, stated opinion or published images and so on.
Cyberbullying has serious emotional and psychological distress. Cyberbullied victims can experience anxiety, depression, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder and low self-esteem. There might also be feelings of being overwhelmed, powerless, humiliated, worthless, vengeful, anger disinterested, frustrated, confused, isolated, physically sick and suicidal. People can lose jobs or work opportunities, their dignity, reputation or their lives.
Cyberbullying can lead to mental illness. Psychosocial therapy can help people deal and cope with cyberbullying.
The writer, Pastor Barbara Meck Silumbu is a Clinical Psychologist
