Can We Prevent Cyberbullying?

Can We Prevent Cyberbullying?

Unfortunately, cyberbullying proves to be around for as long as there are social networking sites that serves as a platform for bullies to do whatever they please.

Facebook and Twitter are the most common avenues for cyberbullying. All it takes is one tweet or one Facebook post that ridicules one child – for all of his followers/friends to see, and the damage has been done.

There are even mobile apps nowadays that promote bullying such as Yik Yak. What’s surprising is that people are actually using this app. It has targeted schools and has grown tremendously throughout the past few months.

As much as Anti-Bullying groups and bullying speakers have lobbied for this app to be taken down, it is still going strong and gaining more users daily.

Cyberbullying is so dangerous because as opposed to bullying in school, there are no classmates or teachers who can see what’s going on. In the virtual space, a child can be suffering from cyberbullying without his or her parents even having a single clue of what’s going on. This proves to be more problematic because it has the tendency to go on for as long as the bully pleases, until the child finds the courage to speak up.

But that’s the main problem with bullying and why it never goes away: courage to speak up.

Kids Can’t Prevent Cyberbullying Alone

Kids, even teachers and parents, can’t put an end to cyberbullying on their own. Countless methods have been tried over the years, to no avail. This though, doesn’t mean that putting an end to cyberbullying is hopeless.

There are professional Anti-Bullying advocates who are constantly exerting effort and pushing out campaigns to stop cyberbullying. Schools and organizations have caught on and have started employing or inviting professional bullying speakers to address the issue.