One girl’s use of self-defense on school grounds has created a great deal of conversation and controversy around how to cope with cyberbullying.
The Girl Who Fought Back
The young woman was caught on video attacking a student at a California school. She tackled a boy, wrestled him to the ground, and kneed him in the face several times. The incursion was followed by a body slam that left him dazed on the cement ground. After easily winning the fight, the female ran off. In all, the confrontation lasted less than 30 seconds, but it was clear that she had successfully and purposefully beaten the boy up until he couldn’t move. Long gone are the days when girls were expected to be mild-mannered and docile. Today, young women speak up and out, stand up for themselves, fight back, and win. (1)
But why did she jump someone during the school day? Some claim it was because she had been cyberbullied.
Cyberbullying: What You Need To Know
The Basics
Today’s children and teenagers grow up spending their days online. From classroom lessons to their social life, kids are looking at screens for multiple hours a day, every day. Their parents and grandparents socialized in person at set times – in the lunchroom, at the movies, or at parties. Today, however, young people are socializing constantly rather than at dedicated times. From Snapchat and Instagram to WhatsApp and YouTube, kids are interacting all day every day, and many of those interactions can be negative. (2)
Naturally, because their social environment is now largely online, bullying has shifted from being an in-person interaction with a known assailant to an online onslaught of mean comments from an anonymous account.
Four Facts About Cyberbullying:
- It is easy for cyberbullies to get away with being abusive, in part, because cyberbullying occurs online, where teachers and parents can’t see what’s happening. In addition, cyberbullies can remain anonymous while they abuse their peers, by using dummy accounts.
- Cyberbullying can be very dangerous, as some perpetrators go so far as to tell their victims to hurt or kill themselves.
- Many young people do not report cyberbullying to parents, teachers, or law enforcement because they fear the repercussions or worry that it won’t be dealt with properly.
- Although most bullying still occurs at school, more than 15% of teenagers have experienced being cyberbullied. (3)
How To Prevent Cyberbullying
- Talk to your child regularly about cyberbullying, what it is, and how to address it. Keep the lines of communication open on a day-to-day basis so that they feel comfortable talking to you, should it occur.
- Know what your children are doing online. Know what social media sites they’re using and be connected to their social media accounts.
- Educate yourself on new social media platforms and texting apps.
- Use digital monitoring apps if your child is younger.
- Be aware. Notice if your child responds in a highly emotional manner after using their phone or computer. If your child starts to become withdrawn, anxious, or nervous, talk to them.
- Also, take note of strange social media behavior such as opening up and shutting down numerous accounts.
Cyberbullying can be evasive and challenging to deal with. However, being aware and following the precautions listed here might just help your child avoid being in the position of the California girl who sought revenge.
