A decade ago, stalking a person or ragging or bullying juniors in schools and colleges was a rising concern amongst the youth and society. Fast forward to today’s world; face-to-face stalking or bullying has been replaced by digital gadgets, increasing the severity of the consequences.
Cyberbullying consists of technology that is used to harass, embarrass, and threaten other people on digital platforms. Along with individuals, it also targets organizations, and employees to threaten the companies. Similarly to cyber threats, cyberbullying has the power to create chaos in the victim’s life, making it miserable and horrifying.
Read on to understand the meaning and depth of cyberbullying, its types, and the impact it creates.
What is Cyberbullying?
To make the concept clearer, cyberbullying is targeting a victim and threatening them with the use of the latest technology. It consists of different types that can have terrible consequences for victims. It is high time to create awareness of such crimes and alert the next generation in every way possible.
Cyber bullying happens on different digital platforms, such as social media, gaming platforms, messaging, and mobile devices. Through the attack, the attacker aims to scare, anger, and shame the victim with their repeated threatening behaviour.
Different Types of Cyberbullying
Masquerading:
In order to trick, control, or degrade their victim, cyberbullies fabricate profiles or assume the identity of another person. They could disseminate misleading information, influence others, or harm the victim’s reputation by using these accounts.
Online Harassment:
Cyberbullies repeatedly make nasty, unpleasant, and disparaging comments about a victim or a group of people. Examples include threats, rude language, and disparaging words directed at the victim.
Denigration/Dissing:
To harm victims’ reputations or social status, cyberbullies propagate unfavorable stories or remarks about them online. It might involve disseminating misleading information, uploading humiliating images or videos, or making offensive remarks about the victim.
Trolling:
Cyberbullies employ rude, inane, or offensive language or actions to intentionally upset or bother people online.
Trickery:
Cyberbullying may involve deceit or manipulation to fool victims into disclosing personal information, posting humiliating images or videos, or engaging in destructive activity. This might trigger feelings of humiliation and betrayal.
Outing/Doxing:
Cyberbullies publicly reveal private or sensitive information about a victim without their permission. It might involve revealing personal images, videos, or private information, compromising privacy, or creating safety concerns. Such horrible acts of harassing a victim lead to serious mental and health issues.
Consequences of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is an increasing phenomenon that affects not only the victim but also their relatives and the larger social context. The impact can be significant and diverse, expressing itself in many facets of the victim’s life. Considering the high stakes, it is urgent to develop a technology that will help control such cases.
The following are the key implications of cyberbullying on victims:
Mental Health
Cyberbullying can lead to severe psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
• Victims often experience intense emotional distress, leading to persistent feelings of sadness, fear, and hopelessness.
Suicidal Thoughts
The relentless nature of online harassment can drive victims to suicidal thoughts.
• The pressure and emotional turmoil caused by cyberbullying can be overwhelming, highlighting the need for intervention and support.
Self-Harm
Victims may resort to self-harm as a coping mechanism to deal with emotional pain.
• Self-harming behaviors can have long-term physical and psychological consequences and often require professional intervention and therapy.
Legal Consequences
Cyberbullying can lead to defamation or invasion of privacy for victims and charges for perpetrators.
Personal and professional relationships
- Victims may withdraw from social interactions, leading to isolation and strained relationships.
• In the workplace, cyberbullying can lead to conflicts, reduced collaboration, and a negative work environment.
Physical Health
Cyberbullying can manifest in physical health problems, including sleep disturbances, headaches, stomach issues, and other stress-related ailments.
Professional Performance
Cyberbullying can adversely affect a victim’s professional performance, leading to decreased concentration, productivity, and motivation.
In Conclusion
Cyberbullying is a pervasive issue that impacts individuals and organizations alike. Understanding it in-depth is necessary to combat this modern menace. Organizations play an important role in fostering a safe and supportive environment for their employees, which includes addressing and mitigating the risks of cyberbullying.
EducationNest offers comprehensive corporate training programs designed to equip organizations with the necessary tools and knowledge to tackle cyberbullying effectively. By investing in our training programs, organizations can ensure their teams are well-prepared to handle cyberbullying incidents, promoting a healthier and more productive work environment. Empower your organization with the skills to prevent and address cyberbullying through our expert-led training sessions!
