Beyond the Screen: The Grievous Offline Consequences of Cyberbullying
Beyond the Screen: The Grievous Offline Consequences of Cyberbullying
By Joy Emiabata
The offline consequences of cyberbullying are a ticking time bomb, waiting to unleash a maelstrom of emotional, social, and psychological devastation.
It is time to shine a light on the darkest corners of this issue, to unravel the complex web of causes and effects and to confront the harsh realities that lie beyond the screen.
Cyberbullying has become one of the major problems faced in this century, especially among the youth. It is hard to look across the net and not see a case or cases of Cyberbullying.
Many hide behind the cover of the Fundamental Human Rights which endorse the freedom of speech.
WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?
According to the Oxford Dictionary: Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.
Cyberbullying is the use of technology or technological tools to intentionally harass or intimidate others.
Cyberbullying can be much more pervasive than traditional bullying and therefore increasingly traumatizing. In addition, the public nature of it can mean that anyone can view the victim as being cyberbullied; adding shame and embarrassment on the already painful experience.
Many, these days employ the use of their various social media platforms to harass others, especially when their thoughts don’t align.They go as far as saying demeaning things, fabricating lies just to prove a point, and issuing all manner of threats.
Freedom of Speech is not an excuse for uncontrollable speech especially when it brings about harm to others. Just as all people are entitled to enjoy all human rights, they also have responsibilities to respect the rights of others.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls on every individual in the society to promote respect for human rights and freedoms. This is because bullying is everyone’s problem. Key human rights treaties also note that individuals have duties to one another and their community, and have a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of human rights
Furthermore, Cyberbullying can be detrimental to a person’s mental and physical health. Victims can experience significant social isolation and feel unsafe. It can lead to emotional and physical harm, loss of self-esteem, feelings of shame and anxiety, concentration, and learning difficulties. Incidents of young people committing suicide have also occurred.
Part of the reason bullying can be so emotionally or psychologically damaging is because it is repetitive. Those who are targeted have a relationship with the one doing the bullying.
For example, targets of bullying often dread going to school because of what the other person might do that day. If the incident occurs once, there is no such dynamic. We believe that the nature of cyberbullying makes it very likely that repetitive harm will occur. For example, imagine someone posts a particularly embarrassing picture of another person online in such a way that others can see it, link to it, and even leave public comments about it. While the action of uploading the picture is a one-time behavior, others can view it or otherwise refer to it repeatedly, thereby resulting in recurring humiliation and shame to the target. One person might see it or millions of people might see it.
Cyberbullying can take many forms. It can include harassment (insults or threats), spreading rumors, impersonation, outings, and trickery (gaining an individual’s trust and then using online media to distribute their secrets), or exclusion (excluding an individual from activities).
These activities can be performed via e-mail, instant messaging, text message, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other websites.
Cyberbullying has far-reaching consequences that can be categorized into four main areas.
Firstly, the emotional and psychological impact of cyberbullying can be debilitating, leading to anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem, and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These emotional scars can, in turn, affect an individual’s social life, leading to social isolation, strained relationships, and reputational damage.
Online harassment can irreparably tarnish an individual’s reputation, impacting their personal and professional life. Moreover, the stress and anxiety caused by cyberbullying can also have physical consequences, including sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, and even physical harm.
The disruption of sleep patterns can lead to fatigue, decreased concentration, and a host of other physical health problems.
The effects of cyberbullying extend beyond individual victims, perpetuating a culture of bullying that encourages others to engage in similar behaviors. As a result, the anonymity of the internet can erode empathy and kindness, fostering a less compassionate and more aggressive society. Ultimately, cyberbullying can exacerbate social divisions, creating a more fragmented and polarized society.
Cyberbullying can be eradicated through several process like: creating of awareness and education, policy development, creating a support system, and most importantly community engagement. The lasting side effects of Cyberbullying should be passed across to individuals via several social platforms. It should be taught in schools and religion gathering mainly to pass across a vital information.
In a nut shell, Cyberbullying is a complex issue with far-reaching offline consequences. It’s essential to acknowledge the profound impact it has on individuals, communities, and society as a whole. By understanding the offline consequences of cyberbullying, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and supportive environment, both online and offline.
