Being a teenager in today’s society means that it is normal to put your entire life on the internet, including all your mistakes and bold decisions. What has also become normal is the vast amount of hate that is tied to putting yourself online.
According to the Megan Meier Foundation, 59 percent of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, and over 90 percent believe it’s a major problem for people their age. The foundations studies also show that victims of cyberbullying are at a greater risk than others of both self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
While these statistics are tragic and extremely hard to hear, I cannot help but wonder why? It seems to me that the recurrence of cyberbullying has an equally common solution.
Almost every popular social media platform or communication service provides the ability to block a user. Some platforms even have Community Guideline services embedded that will take down or block the videos and comments from users that are seen as inappropriate or hateful.
According to Clark County Ohio, the most common places for cyberbullying to occur are on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. All of these services include the ability to block and/or report users whenever you feel it is necessary.
As a teenager who is a victim of both the normality of sharing my life via social media and the uncomfortable or hateful online situations that come with it, I’ve always been able to solve it with ease. I have never been afraid to use the block button when someone is saying hurtful or dangerous things about me online.
I find it difficult to understand why someone would allow a stranger or even an acquaintance to say unkind things about them through a screen. I feel that those who choose to let the “cyberbullying” continue are victimising themselves by not clicking the block button or telling an adult.
Whenever blocking or reporting a person online doesn’t work, speaking to a trusted adult is always important. People such as your parents, guardians, counselors, or teachers can always help you out of an uncomfortable online situation no matter how embarrassed you might be.
An anonymous teen shared their story on cyberbullying and how they were able to put it to an end by blocking the user and involving guardians. This teen began to receive hateful messages on instagram from a close friend in middle school.
“I stopped being friends with everyone, I blocked everyone out of my life. I let my mom know but I asked her to let me handle it and it was silent for a while,” anonymous said.
Although they let their parents know about the situation, they asked for them not to get involved. Not allowing a parent to get involved caused them to become closed off and the hate to continue.
“Then it came up again in my freshman year of high school, so I got my mom involved. The whole thing got taken down, I reported it on instagram, I blocked the people, and I didn’t shut down like I did before,” anonymous said.
When the teen told their parents, reported the posts, and blocked the users, the situation was put to an end. It also allowed them to remain at peace and move on.
“I see them in school but they never say anything to me,” anonymous said.
Next time someone tries to hurt your feelings or self esteem through the use of social media, don’t think twice before hitting the block button. You victimise yourself when you let it continue.
