When people are mean to others online, it is called cyberbullying. This might be when someone uses the internet to make fun of other people, send mean messages, spread hurtful rumours or share embarrassing pictures without permission.
It also includes when a group of people unfollow someone on social media, or pick on them in online games. It is not nice and can hurt people’s feelings.
Why are people so mean?
Katie Leung is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in Hong Kong. She says that people often bully others because they do not think about how their actions hurt others.
“Sometimes we feel really jealous or angry at someone. We do not know what to do with these feelings, so we act without thinking,” the psychotherapist explained.
Leung pointed out that cyberbullying could also hurt the bully.
“Cyberbullies often feel lonely because they do not know how to deal with their feelings in a healthy way. They say or do mean things to others, but this can make them lose their friends,” she said.
“It’s easy to be mean to people online, but it has consequences. People will see you differently, and you might feel bad about yourself too.”
How can cyberbullies change?
Instead of acting mean to others when they are frustrated, Leung said bullies should find ways to calm down. There are many ways to do this: counting slowly to 10, taking deep breaths, or taking a break from the situation.
Then, we can try describing our emotions and changing our actions. Leung explained: “When we name our feelings, we help our brain to understand them. This can help us to calm down and think more clearly.”
We can also ask someone we trust to help us understand our feelings.
Leung added that knowing what makes us angry can help us control our emotions and not act on them right away. We can have a plan for what to do if someone says or does something we do not like. For example, we can promise to say at least one nice thing in a situation that makes us angry.
“No one wants to be a cyberbully. We all make mistakes, and it’s OK if we admit it.” Leung said.
Sample answers
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Before you read: Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to others.
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Stop and think: Cyberbullying can hurt other people’s feelings by making them feel sad, angry or embarrassed. It can also make the bully feel lonely and lose their friends.
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Consider: We should find healthy ways to deal with our feelings. For example, we can calm down by taking deep breaths, counting to 10, or taking a break from the situation. It’s also helpful to talk to someone we trust.
