It’s no news that kids spend all their time on the internet on Facebook and Instagram etc. but how or what is it they’re doing?
How much control do we have with what they can see and how they can talk?
Of course we know from my other blog ‘The Social Eye’ that social media plays a big part in our mental health but what about taking a look at the fact that nasty comments can be made and horrible messages can be sent privately. There is an easy way for people to be purposely damaging to someone else’s mental health.
That’s Cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying affects 38% of young people, whether it may be via texting or over the internet. This sort of stuff is hidden away and can be done without a parent or teacher overhearing. With passwords and pins set who knows what’s going on inside someone’s phone.
I do think the way social media is going 38% will soon be 50% and so on and so on. .
I have personal experience of this through Twitter. A rumour had started about me that I had done something, I was in Australia at the time, so it would have been impossible for rumoured event to have happened and the worst thing was, ALL of it was publicly written as a ‘Tweet’ so everyone who knew everyone could see and about 6 other girls were getting involved ‘Tweeting/Retweeting’ nasty things about me.
Even though I knew it wasn’t true and I’d never do such a thing it still gave me a massive amount of anxiety and self-shame. All these people believing something that wasn’t coming from me and to this day probably still do – of course I couldn’t care less what others think of me now but at the time you start to put yourself down as much as they were.
At the time this happened I was struggling massively with my depression, so when this was all happening I was feeling pretty low! In a way it made things worse and even though I put a smile on my face and I agreed with my family when they said it was probably jealously, there is no denying the fact it made me hate myself too.
But why is it?
Why is it kids and teenagers can be so mean – at what age do we start judging and hating?
I’ve got a nephew who’s just turned two and he’s very quick to see what you’re doing and copies right away. We have to be so careful that our actions now, will define how these young people will be. There is nothing right in bullying, how you make someone else feel about themselves is and can be life changing.
Cyberbullying can cause a permanent effect on someone, doesn’t matter where, when or how, it can never be undone or unsaid. You might just hit that spot which is tipping point for someone. You have absolutely no idea what battles people are going through. “In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND”.
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