In the digital age, kids no longer differentiate between online and offline interactions, making cyberbullying just as harmful as traditional bullying. To shed light on this issue, here are five common forms of cyberbullying that everyone should be aware of:
Harassment: Repeatedly enacting abusive behavior against someone online.
Masquerading: Pretending to be someone you’re not to hurt someone else. Resulting in potential shame and embarrassment for the child.
Exclusion: Exclusion and Social Isolation: In the digital world, exclusion takes on a new form. Bullies deliberately exclude their target from online groups, chats, or events, isolating them from their peers and causing feelings of loneliness and depression.
Doxing: Releasing someone’s private information to cause them harm. Sharing private photos, secrets, or embarrassing information can wreak havoc on a child’s life.
Trolling: Provoking or baiting someone to get a rise out of them. Making inflammatory, anonymous statements online to derail an online conversation, provoke other participants in the discussions, and leave negative comments on social media.
It is crucial for parents, educators, and the community to be vigilant and take action against cyberbullying. By raising awareness about these common forms of cyberbullying, we can work towards creating a safer and more inclusive digital environment for our children.
