Technological abuse

With the advent of technology, computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones have become part of our daily lives. Today literally no person can be without these devices. The communications sector has revolutionized in recent decades, reducing the entire world to a certain extent. The web of the Internet has allowed the ends of the earth to connect with each other with the click of a button. Social media has further helped people connect with each other from different parts of the world, get to know themselves, and establish a lifelong friendly bond. These sites and platforms have even helped people find long-lost friends and family and put them back together. But along with the benefits, the new technology has also brought its curse. And that curse is cyberbullying. It is a form of cyber abuse that is deliberately used in a hostile way to harass and threaten other people. With the increasing use of technologies, cyberbullying is also on the rise.

The threat

This problem has become a growing threat, especially among teenagers. Cyberbullying included the use of text messages or emails, rumors emailed or posted on social media sites, and shameful fake images, videos, websites or profiles. People who experience cyberbullying sometimes are also bullied in person. Also, sometimes it is quite difficult to avoid cyberbullying as the source is unknown and we cannot restrict it. It can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it can reach a person even when they are alone. Vulgar messages and photos can be posted anonymously and quickly spread to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source. Deleting inappropriate or annoying messages, texts and images is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

The mental impact

Although social networking sites, by themselves, do not promote these types of activities, they are used as a tool to accomplish such horrendous work. Children and women are the main victims of cyberbullying. It can have a significant negative impact on the mind. Teenagers or children who are victims of this heinous crime may experience behavioral changes such as sudden and extensive use of alcohol and drugs, a tendency to miss school, experience bullying in person, unwillingness to attend school, have bad grades, low self-esteem, and erratic health problems.

Another form of bully

Cyberbullying is another form of cyberbullying. It may include false accusations, awkward observation, threats, identity theft and damage to data or equipment, solicitation of minors for sexual intercourse, or gathering of information to harass. Women are the main victims of cyberbullying.

The consequences

It can be as threatening and terrifying as any other type of crime, even if there is no physical or verbal contact with the harasser. Victims of this crime can experience both extreme psychological and emotional reactions. It can result in changes in sleep patterns, depression, anxiety, anger, paranoia, shock, and disbelief.

Precautions and steps to follow

If someone is a victim of either of these two bullying patterns, they should not keep it to themselves. Help from family, close friends, or professional counselors cope with this problem. Legal help should be sought, as this should be reported to the police cybersecurity cell departments so that the culprit can be located and arrested as soon as possible. Parents should be open with their children and monitor their social activities from time to time, especially if they are minors. Care must be taken with proper scrutiny and protection of your email and personal data so that it is not hacked and abused. Therefore, with little caution and awareness, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from cyberbullying.