Digital Dangers: Navigating Cyberbullying in Youth Culture - English Version

Written by: Ardellia

In this modern digital era, cyberbullying has become a significant concern. Cyberbullying is an act of bullying using digital technology and communication tools, such as social media, messaging apps, email, or online forums, to harass, intimidate, or target individuals or groups.

The phenomenon of cyberbullying has caused unrest or discomfort in society, especially for victims, which can take various forms, including sending hurtful messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing or compromising content, or engaging in online harassment.

This action can happen on social media, chat platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. Bullying using digital technologies is an action that is a deliberately aggressive act of harming someone online. 

The effects of cyberbullying are just as bad as bullying in the real world. In some cases, the effects are even more severe. The dangers of cyberbullying are not only related to mental disorders but can also develop into physical ones. 

Cyberbullying can take various forms, including sending hurtful messages, spreading rumors or lies, public shaming, online harassment, doxing, sexual harassment, doxing, and cyberstalking.

The impact of cyberbullying can be severe, as it can lead to emotional distress, low self-esteem and confidence, physical health issues, social isolation, depression, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, even self-harm or suicide. 

A majority of youth cyberbullying is a concerning trend in this modern day of the digital age. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying due to their extensive use of social media and online platforms for communication and social interaction. 

There are several factors that contribute to the prevalence of teen cyberbullying, including how teens are more often connected online than any other age group and use various platforms for socializing, sharing, and expressing themselves. Not only that, the anonymity of the internet can embolden individuals to engage in cyberbullying behavior, as they may feel less accountable for their actions.

Based on UNICEF Indonesia data for 2022, 45% of Indonesian children are victims of cyberbullying, whereas the children in question are aged 14 to 24 years. Meanwhile, 20% of Indonesian children who are victims of bullying at school, home, and in their surrounding environment are aged around 13-17 years old.

Simple ways to stop cyberbullying, according to UNICEF (Twitter.com/@UNICEF)

According to UNICEF, examples of cyberbullying are considered as follows: 

• Spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos of someone on social media

• Sending hurtful messages or threats via messaging platforms

• Impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf

It is crucial for individuals, communities, and platforms to work together to prevent and address cyberbullying. To avoid cyberbullying behavior, you can improve your:

• Empathy, understanding how others feel

• Conscience, hearing the inner voice that helps to do the right thing

• Self-control, thinking before acting

• Respect others, treating everyone and everything with care

• Spread kindness, showing concern of others

• Tolerance, appreciating differences and beliefs regardless of ethnicity, gender, appearance, culture and beliefs

• Justice, treating others with kindly and fairly

To stop being cyberbullied, there are simple things that you can do:

• Restrict

• Block

• Report

• Ignore

• Don’t fight back

• Save the evidence

• Talk to someone or your parents about it 

• Report it to the site where it’s happening or to police if it is making you feel scared

If you feel you are being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust, such as a parent, a close family member, or other trusted adults that you know.

In case you don't feel comfortable talking to someone you know, you can contact Tepsa - Telepon Pelayanan Sosial Anak (TePSA) at 1500771 or 081238888002, and you can chat with a friendly professional counselor.

Remember, combating cyberbullying requires collective effort from individuals, families, communities, and digital platforms. By working together, we can create a safer and more respectful digital environment for everyone.