Cyber bullying
noun
- the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.
I write about this because my sisters and I are victims of cyber bullying. This occurred either in 2013 or 2014, at which we were quite young. Cyber bullying can affect anyone at any age, but more especially those at a more tender age such as those in their teens. One of the most common effects of cyber bullying is the effect that it has on one’s self-esteem as they grow older into adolescence.
This is because the way that we tend to perceive ourselves is through the eyes of others and social cues from those that we socialise with. At this age we seek to surround ourselves with people who make us feel confident in ourselves and not people who make us feel small or less when we are around them.
This stage is therefore very important to the growth of the youth as it shapes how we see ourselves. There has been a significant amount of proof as stated in by Patchin, J. and Hinduja, S. (2010). that bullying takes a negative toll on an adolescent and their development throughout the years. Most importantly it tends to affect the self esteem most. As Patchin, J. and Hinduja, S. (2010) state that self-esteem is defined Rosenberg as “a favourable or unfavourable attitude toward the self.”
I am here to tell you that the problem is not with you. The issue is with those who are doing the bullying. There is a saying of people putting you down only to bring you to their level and this is to an extent true as there is proof of the bullies usually having a lower self-esteem than the victim.
This is because research has consistently found that the relationship to self-esteem, regardless of its direction, is weaker amongst bullies than it is among victims for more information click on the following link https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00548.x. Also based on the research of the article it has been proven that cyber bullying does have an affect ones self-esteem.
There are many ways to get through the effects of cyber bullying or bullying in general. Such include: speaking to your parents about, I know it might make it feel as though you are weak for going to your parents for help. Your parents are your biggest support system and opening up to them would make you feel so much better as they will help you to find a way through everything.
Another method is to ignore what is being said to or about you, make sure you report it on social media and also make sure that you have screenshots of proof. Also surround yourself with people who love you as reaffirm you that you are not who or what the people on social media say you are.
Another way would be through music. I know this is very typical, but music is very healing and therapeutic, and it can help through so much. Using these methods, you should be able to work through the effects that cyber bullying has had on you as you have the support of your loved ones depending on the extent of cyber bullying.
Also, always remember that you are never alone in this. There are always support systems or people you can talk to who have most probably gone through the same or similar issue. Me having my sister and my cousin also going through the same thing at the same time helped me a great deal as we were able to work through it together. We were able to speak up to our parents about it when we felt as though things were getting out of hand and through that our parents helped us with a way forward. So always look to loved ones for help and support.
Sakhe- Build, Learn, Grow 