How To Deal With Cyber Bullying As a Child or Teen
You can be cyberbullied if you are being harassed, threatened, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by someone through the use of technology.It can be hard to deal with cyberbullies.If you want to fight back at the bully, you should curl up in bed and vow never to leave your room, but there are better options.Act responsible to stop the bully, find healthy ways to support your self-esteem, and work to reduce the likelihood of cyberbullying in your own and your peers' futures.
Step 1: Don't respond directly.
The best response to a bully is no response at all.It will only make the problem worse by giving the bully an excuse to bully even more.You should keep yourself cool.If you respond to the bully with an insult, you will only increase the fire.It will probably do more harm than good to respond with non-insults.Only reply with silence.
Step 2: Every message, image, email and post should be saved.
You should keep a record of any proof of cyberbullying.Print out the mean things they send.They insult you on the web pages.When you need to report and stop them, the day may come.You can click "delete" on every email, text, orIM.This is not the way to go.When this bully needs to be reported, you will need all the evidence in front of you.
Step 3: You should gather identifying information for bullies.
Emails, screen names, and posted images can be used to hide a bully.Keep this information as evidence if you identify the attacker.Don't confront the person directly.You should keep a record of the email or screen name you received.You can check your inbox for previous materials from this person.You can search for the screen name on the service provider's website if there aren't any.You may be able to view this person's name if the profile is blocked.Get others involved when all else fails.Law enforcement and service providers can track the address of the attacker.
Step 4: If you see a bully, report them to the service providers.
The prominent "BLOCK" and "REPORT" buttons can be found near any message or posting you receive.Don't hesitate to use these tools if you're familiar with the policies and procedures for each app, site, and device you use.You can easily report or block users on Facebook.If you want to learn how to block or report bully, check the "Settings" feature on other sites.
Step 5: Tell a person you trust.
You don't need to accept cyberbully as something you have to live with, if you confide in a parent, teacher, coach, or other adult.Don't be ashamed to talk about how the bully makes you feel, and present the evidence you've gathered.Adults can help stop the bully and support you as you deal with the experience.If it happens outside of school hours, report it to a teacher, counselor, resource officer, or principal.No matter the circumstances, schools have a responsibility to protect their targets.
Step 6: If you are being bullied, report it to legal authorities.
It is now illegal to bully in most countries.If you confide in the adults, they can contact the bully's parents or go straight to the authorities.The bully could be suspended, expelled, or even arrested if they've hurt or humiliated you.It will be helpful to the authorities if you have any evidence of bullied people.It doesn't matter if they started it or you responded to it, you may be subject to discipline or even legal punishment.
Step 7: The bully should be removed from view.
Save the images as evidence, but don't look at them again and again.The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" can help.It's important to clear the bully from your mind and sight.The bully wants you to focus on the mean things they wrote.You do not have to play their game.
Step 8: Don't waste your time on negative qualities.
It hurts to have someone write something like, "You're fat, ugly, and no one will ever love you", but they don't really know you.You know you aren't perfect, but that you are kind, generous, persistent, or creative, and any number of other great qualities.Keep telling yourself that.If you start to feel down, repeat your list of positive qualities to yourself.To make it the first and last thing on your mind each day, you might want to write the list down in the morning and at night.
Step 9: Make time to be with your friends.
Someone who dislikes you is not a real friend.Don't spend your time with them.If you want to be accepted for being you, focus on your friends who are supportive.Find a good person to listen to.Someone who wants you to express how you feel.Don't fall into the trap of believing the bully if you are being bullied because you have no friends.Everyone can make friends, just be yourself, look for others with similar interests, give others a chance to know you, and be a good friend yourself.
Step 10: Take a break
Change things up if your daily digital routine gets you down.You should remove your profiles from sites where the worst of the bully happened.Cut back on the amount of time you spend online.Take a full-on cyber vacation to heal from your bully experience.You will get a lot of free time during this vacation.It's a good idea to use it on activities that make you feel better about yourself.
Step 11: Do things you enjoy.
Bullies try to steal your joy because they're trying to deal with their own pain.Your happiness is yours to control.Don't let the lies, cruel jokes, or harsh words of someone else stop you from doing things that make you happy.Trying something new that is based on something you already enjoy can provide both distraction and self-esteem.If you like cooking, sign up for a class with a parent or friend.You can volunteer at the local animal shelter.
Step 12: Use self-calming techniques.
The pain of being bullied will get better as time goes on.You will start to feel sad, angry, or confused if you think about what was said or done.Look for self-calming techniques that work for you.It is possible that regular use of them will make you happier and healthier in the future.Try activities such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, prayer or spiritual practices, yoga, and exercise.If you take a series of long, deep breaths and focus on a word like "calm" or "happy", you can get results.
Step 13: Seek professional help.
If you can not shake the pain caused by your cyber bully, you will never feel like a failure.It is possible to claim victory over a bully by getting help when you need it.When you need help, admit to yourself and others.Talk to a parent, school counselor, or physician if you're depressed because of being bullied.You should tell an adult if you start to have thoughts about self-injury.You can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US.
Step 14: You should keep your personal information private.
You should only give out your screen names to people you actually know in person.Don't give your passwords to anyone, even the best friend you've known since kindergarten.Don't share your phone number or home address on the internet.
Step 15: Carefully post materials.
Bullies can steal your secrets, twist your words, and doctor your images against you.If you want anyone to have access to this information for years to come, stop and think about it.It may seem like a good idea at the moment, but what about a year from now?Consider how someone might use your words or images against you.
Step 16: Understand privacy settings, filters and blocks.
You have to read through the privacy settings for every site, app, and device you use.You can learn how to restrict access to your information and report violations of your privacy.Limit access to your digital life to those you really trust.
Step 17: Don't encourage other people to be aggressive.
You are equally to blame for causing pain to that person if you forward, applauding, encouraging, orliking someone else.It is the same as laughing in someone's face when they are being bullied.If you want to show compassion to someone who is being bullied, put yourself in their shoes.It's better if you don't join in or encourage it, but do your part to end it.You can report the bully yourself.Don't listen to that jerk, send messages of support to the person.You are awesome just the way you are.
Step 18: There are anti-bullying campaigns.
You can join a club at school.You can research and make posters.The chorus of adults and kids who are saying that enough is enough and that bully in all its forms must stop should be your voice.You can encourage others to do the same by being a friend to someone who is being bullied.Show them that there are more good people than bad people.