https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/bullying-kids-teens
I’m writing my latest post after reading an article about cyberbullying and how school violence affects adolescents during these crucial stages of their development. A study revealed that teenagers who become victims of cyberbullying are up to 50% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, and their chances of self-harming more than double.
Personally, I’ve always seen the digital era as a powerful opportunity to explore and shape our identities. Social media allows us to connect with like-minded people, those who share our interests or can teach us something new. It broadens our worldview and helps us strengthen our critical thinking skills, enabling us to become less biased individuals in a society full of distortion.
But just as the possibilities are endless, so is the darkness we might encounter. The internet has also become a weapon used to harm, to reinforce in-groups by attacking those outside them. Most bullying in schools is initiated by that group of "popular" kids who build their self-esteem through fear, by projecting an image of superiority and dominance. For that to work, they need an opposing stereotype: a weaker, more insecure, quieter, less popular kid.
It’s devastating to see how, in many bullying cases, the existence of a digital world simply means there’s no escape from your aggressor. Violence has evolved; it’s become more insidious, even without physical harm. Now, people can twist the truth, alter someone’s story and fate with a single click.
The article outlines several common forms of cyberbullying: posting and spreading humiliating images that damage a victim’s dignity, pushing them further into isolation. There are also countless cases of fake profiles, where victims even lose control over how others perceive their actions and identity.
The most frequent consequences of digital violence (such as identity theft, social media threats, or the spreading of lies) are depression and anxiety. Victims often struggle to sleep, suffer changes in appetite, and experience overwhelming, dysfunctional thoughts, including suicidal ideation as a way to escape the pain. Anxiety also makes it harder to believe that someone might treat you kindly or bring good into your life. It chips away at your hobbies, your confidence, your family relationships, your sense of self. It can make you feel lost, sometimes permanently.
One of the phrases that angers me most is the classic: “Bullying makes you stronger.” I don’t believe we need to find a silver lining in cruelty. Bullying doesn’t make you stronger: it makes you disappear. And those lucky enough to come back have to learn to live again, to love again, and to accept that sometimes, all that remains of the person you once were is the fear you endured.
And no one deserves to live their adolescence in fear.
The article also points out how the scars of bullying are hard to erase over time, because the nervous system still remembers. Bullying leaves you more insecure, more afraid, more fragile.
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