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Cyberbullying: Effects on Teenagers and Prevention Strategies
At least 27% of teens have faced cyberbullying at one point in their lives. However, only 40% of victims report it to their parents and 30% to their teachers. They may not discuss it out of shame, hopelessness, or blackmail. Still, addressing these concerns is crucial to maintaining their mental well-being. 93% of cyberbullying victims report feeling depressed and powerless after online harassment. Furthermore, online bullying is more difficult to control and more stressful for victims, as 50% feel more anxious. After all, they cannot identify their bully because they are anonymous online.
As caregivers, parents, or teachers, you protect youth. Teenagers are closer to adulthood, but children need warmth and support. Suicide is the second most common cause of death among adolescents. Those who face cyberbullying are four times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and depression. These statistics highlight the importance of understanding this issue and developing prevention strategies to decrease its negative consequences. The following article contains the information you need to create a brighter future for teens.
Public Health vs. Cyberbullying
The first step to preventing cyberbullying is equipping yourself with the necessary skills to develop prevention strategies. Seeking higher education in degrees, like a Master's in Public Health, can be crucial to creating effective interventions. These programs teach you the following:
- Social and behavioral determinants of health
- Research and data analysis
- Communication and management skills
- Health promotion and education
- Community-based interventions
- Policy and Advocacy
Cyberbullies have increased due to the internet. However, it also provides the solution through online degrees in MPH. These programs are accessible and convenient for busy adults. Suppose you want to pursue this degree but lack time for traditional learning. In that case, pursuing an online master of public health degree from a CEPH-accredited (Council on Education for Public Health) institution such as Tulane University can help you develop a holistic understanding of cyberbullying. By becoming a public health expert, you can collaborate with schools and parents to help vulnerable teens in need. You can bring change to your communities by advocating for empathy, compassion, and anti-bullying.
Understanding the effects on teenagers
Cyberbullying is immensely stressful for victims, causing anxiety or depression. Furthermore, they may feel isolated and have low self-esteem. Studies indicate that teens who are victims of this crime also struggle academically, with 39% dropping out of school and 37% showing delinquent behavior. 32% of these teens are also more susceptible to substance abuse as they use alcohol and other drugs as an escape.
Cyberbullying makes teenagers more likely to keep secrets. They may also be more irritable and unfocused. Their motivation to learn or form new relationships might plummet, and they might stop attending school. Understanding and promptly identifying these signs is crucial to providing the necessary support before they escalate into something serious, like suicide ideation. Addressing these academic, mental, and social impacts on teenagers who face cyberbullying can help you form effective interventions and strategies.
Prevention strategies
Prevention strategies are vital to protecting teens and building a kinder community. As a health professional, you can collaborate with schools and parents to fight cyberbullying. However, to create an effective anti-cyberbullying campaign, you must first recognize the three R's:
- Recognize
Cyberbullying prevention is awareness. As a public health professional, you can design specialized programs to educate students and instructors about cyberbullying. Suppose you want to highlight cyberbullying. In that case, you can use these campaigns to build awareness around cyberbullying and encourage kindness and compassion. You can make the internet a better and safer place by providing education.
Educating students and parents will help you protect and empower victims. Research suggests that solid parent relationships and a positive school environment can encourage teens to speak up about their experiences and seek help when needed. You can collaborate with parents to advise on openly communicating with their kids about online safety. Parents who participate in their children's lives can better assist them and shield them from online bullying. Similarly, a safe and nurturing school environment helps form better peer relationships. One of the most significant effects of cyberbullying is social isolation, so strong bonds with peers, parents, and teachers can help combat loneliness.
- Report
Only 1% of teenagers say that telling a teacher or an adult would be the first thing they do when cyberbullied. Most of these cases are underreported because the victim doesn’t know how to act and feels hopeless about their situation. They do not believe they will get the support they need. However, cyberbullies gain more power if we ignore them, so you should encourage others to speak out publicly against this crime.
Encourage bystanders such as school peers, teachers, or friends of the victim to report cyberbullying. You should create a safe space for victims to open up about their experiences. Establish an anonymous reporting system and make it easier for victims to get help. Teenagers can feel safer and more supported in online interactions when we all work together to make the Internet a better place for everyone.
- Refuse
Peer pressure is a common problem for teenagers; around 90% admit to conforming to social pressure. This herd mentality can also influence their online attitudes, such as defamation or cancel culture. They might think it's "funny" or "cool" and feel like outsiders if they don't participate. Suppose many people post malicious rumors about someone online. They may or may not be accurate. However, since most people do it, teens may also bully someone online.
As a public health expert, you can combat this issue by promoting individuality and critical thinking. Nurture young people to make decisions and think independently. Teach them to think through their online behavior's consequences and resist the urge to follow the crowd mindlessly. Stress the value of staying loyal to oneself and standing up for what is right, despite opposition from others.
Conclusion
Teenage years significantly contribute to adult personality, so you should empower victims to escape a pessimistic mindset. Implementing the cyberbullying prevention strategies in this article can help you remove the bullies' power and give it to the victims. Anonymity makes people too comfortable saying things online that they wouldn't say otherwise. However, you can inspire positive change by building awareness of how words impact others. Here's to creating an online space that nurtures teenagers instead of destroying them.
