Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Have you ever noticed someone leaving mean comments on a social media post? Or a post being “disliked” or “downvoted” many times for no apparent reason? If yes, those may be cases of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is a kind of bullying that takes place on the internet. It may happen on messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Discord and Snapchat or even on gaming apps like Minecraft.
What is cyberbullying?
Katie Leung, a psychotherapist at Therapy Partners, said cyberbullying could happen in many different shapes or forms.
“It could be as simple as gathering a group of people online and all deciding to unfriend you. Or they all decide to like everybody else’s photo except for yours,” she explained.
But how do we tell the difference between someone being mean and someone telling a joke?
According to Leung, it all depends on whether someone is laughing with you or at you. If a person makes you feel bad or is unwilling to talk about the problem, it is likely to be bullying.
Helping one another
If you suspect someone is being bullied online, Leung said the best next step would be to tell someone trustworthy. This person could be a teacher, a parent or even a friend.
Listen carefully to someone who is being bullied, so they can clearly tell you what they need. They might not want you to fight for them, Leung said. They might want you just to listen.
Leung said it would be important for us to believe potential victims of cyberbullying.
She added: “[If they feel] like they’re rejected, that nobody believes them … will they ever ask for help again?”
Maybe you want to help a friend who is unfortunately being cyberbullied, but you have concerns that you might become a target of bullying yourself.
Try to keep that in mind and prepare yourself, Leung advised. You could give your parents a heads up and tell them about your plans to help a friend who is being bullied, she said.
If you are being bullied
Some parents may have big reactions when they first learn their child is being cyberbullied. They might be angry or fearful. Clear communication is key.
They might want to come to the rescue or solve the problem, Leung explained. You can say, “I just want you to listen” or “I just want some advice.”
Leung said therapy could be a safe place to discuss things that you might not normally share.
Therapists might be helpful for a victim of cyberbullying, “if you need someone who is unbiased and is not going to intervene”, she explained.
“[They can] help you process some of your feelings and even role-play how to resolve problems.”
