Cyber bullying is nothing to take lightly. In the age of digital media and social networks, our children and young adults are at more risk of cyber bullying than ever before. This is one of the biggest risks that come with putting so much information on the Internet about yourself and what’s going on. That’s why it’s crucial that every teen and young person knows what to do in the case of cyber bullying, just like in the cases of physical bullying that may happen at school. Keep reading down below to learn more about the top ways you should use to deal with cyber bullying in an effective way.
- Save Every Single Message, Tweet, Email, Etc.
It may be your first reaction to delete and throw away any messages that appear to be of the cyber bullying nature. However, this can be detrimental to your case if you were to bring one up in court. You should ensure that you keep a folder on your email inbox or in your browser for all of those hateful messages that appear to constitute cyber bullying. If you were to press charges against someone for cyber bullying, then these messages, emails, and texts are going to be crucial in building up a case against the perpetrator.
- Never Participate, No Matter What
If you reply to your bully, you are only going to be adding fuel to the fire. As much as you can, you should resist the temptation to fight back online as that will only make things worse. This is the Internet we’re talking about – there’s no guarantee that your bully will back down if you respond, so what’s the point? Don’t participate in the conversation and just save the message before you shut off the computer.
- Identify the Perpetrator
If you are not sure who the perpetrator of the bullying is, then do all you can to figure out who they might be. You can use various hints to determine this – it’s time to put on those detective caps! Emails and images can be created to deceive you into thinking the bully is another person or to disguise their identity altogether. Write down the screen name or the email from which you received the bullying message – have you noticed this email before? Search through your inbox or other messaging threads to determine whether or not this is the first time you’ve received something from him or her. This will most likely be able to clue you in on who this person is and get their identity down.
- Try to Approach Them in Person
If you have found the perpetrator and don’t feel physically threatened being around them, then try to confront them face to face. This is an important step to take before you try to find a lawyer. Someone who is a cyber bully is nothing when their mask has been taken off that’s usually there to protect them on the Internet. If you have a conversation with him or her regarding the bullying, then this could help to stop the problem in its tracks. However, never approach a bully if you feel like he or she could be physically threatening to you.
- Press Charges If Things Get Too Severe
If you are facing serious bullying that is more severe than just a couple of taunts here or there, then you should very much think about pressing charges. In most states of the US, bullying is illegal, so you should not be afraid to go this route if things get too serious. If you are not able to press charges yourself, then you can speak with your parents or other authority figures to get advice and get to court.
When it comes to cyber bullying, this is a relatively new phenomenon that has come with the age of the Internet. If you feel as if you have been a victim of cyber bullying, then make sure to speak with someone about your options.
