Online Harassment Strategies: combating digital aggressors
Cyberbullying, a modern form of bullying that occurs via the internet, emails, messaging, social media, or other digital technology, can have profound effects on mental health. It can lead to feelings of hurt, humiliation, anger, depression, or even suicidal thoughts.
Understanding and addressing cyberbullying is crucial for everyone, particularly parents, educators, and victims. This article outlines effective strategies for dealing with cyberbullying and mitigating its effects on mental health.
**Social Support and Communication**
Connecting with the victim is paramount. Asking how they are doing and affirming that the bullying is not their fault helps provide emotional support. It's important to remind them they are not alone and to explore support options together. Encouraging victims to talk to trusted adults, such as parents, teachers, or school counselors, can provide access to additional help and resources.
**Education and Awareness**
Implementing comprehensive education programs in schools that teach digital citizenship, responsible online behavior, and the permanence of digital footprints can prevent cyberbullying by fostering ethical online interactions. Empowering bystanders by educating them on how to recognize cyberbullying, intervene safely, and support victims can help create a community that actively opposes bullying. Teaching interpersonal skills such as empathy, conflict resolution, and confident body language strengthens resilience and reduces vulnerability to bullying.
**Documenting and Reporting**
Keeping records of cyberbullying incidents, including screenshots and details of the events, is critical for reporting to schools and social media platforms to have harmful content removed and address harassment effectively.
**Use of Technology**
Utilizing parental controls and monitoring software can help guardians supervise their children’s online activity and intervene when necessary. Social media platforms often provide tools for reporting abuse, which victims or bystanders should be encouraged to use.
**Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health Strategies**
Developing healthy coping mechanisms such as mindfulness practices and regular exercise can reduce stress and improve emotional regulation in the aftermath of cyberbullying. Practicing self-care, seeking social support, and, when needed, accessing professional mental health services bolster resilience and recovery from trauma caused by cyberbullying.
**School and Community Involvement**
Schools can provide behavioral health therapists and peer support groups to offer direct intervention and create safe spaces for open discussion about bullying and mental health. Parents and educators should work together to establish clear rules and promote appropriate digital behavior to set expectations and boundaries online.
By combining empathetic support, education, proactive monitoring, and resilience-building, these strategies collectively address both the prevention of cyberbullying and the mitigation of its detrimental effects on mental health.
In addition, focusing on positive aspects of life, finding others who share the same values and interests, and adopting body positivity can counter the effects of cyberbullying. Taking a break from social media, practicing stress management techniques, and seeking support from trusted people can also improve mood and mental health.
It's important to remember that the cyberbully's actions may constitute a violation of the website's terms of service or, depending on the laws in your area, may even warrant criminal charges. Don't blame yourself for cyberbullying incidents. The cyberbully is the person with the problem, not you.
If a child is cyberbullying others, parents should learn about their child's friends and social life, educate them about cyberbullying, encourage them to manage stress, set limits with technology, and establish consistent rules of behavior.
Various helplines are available for victims of bullying and cyberbullying in numerous countries. If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, don't hesitate to seek help.
References: [1] Common Sense Education. (2020). Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying. [Online]. Available: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/lesson/digital-citizenship-and-cyberbullying
[2] National Association of School Psychologists. (2019). Cyberbullying: What We Know and What We Can Do. [Online]. Available: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/position-statements-and-reports/position-statements/cyberbullying-what-we-know-and-what-we-can-do
[3] StopBullying.gov. (2021). Cyberbullying. [Online]. Available: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html
[4] American Psychological Association. (2018). Cyberbullying: What Parents, Educators, and Teens Need to Know. [Online]. Available: https://www.apa.org/topics/cyberbullying
- In addition to emotional support, educating victims about health-and-wellness strategies such as mindfulness practices and fitness-and-exercise can improve their resilience and recovery from cyberbullying.
- Implementing education-and-self-development programs in schools that teach digital citizenship, responsible online behavior, and the importance of mental health can help prevent cyberbullying by fostering empathy, conflict resolution, and confident body language.
- For long-term personal-growth and career-development, online-education platforms can offer professional training and resources to help victims cope with the effects of cyberbullying and grow beyond their experiences.
- Learning about the impact of nutrition on mental health can provide victims with an holistic approach to improve their mood and overall well-being, helping them cope with the trauma caused by cyberbullying.
- The importance of seeking help cannot be overstated. Helplines dedicated to mental health, health-and-wellness, and self-development are available in many countries to support individuals who are experiencing cyberbullying.
