Hidden Pain: Exploring Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Mental Health
Could bullying & harassment be a call for help?
Enoch KM Maryam Kaisi 09 May 2024 08:48AM 86

Has cyberbullying ever happened to you? How did it make you feel?
The internet is a source of both joy and sorrow. Every day, instances of online attacks, trolling, or harassment surface, impacting the mental health of those involved. Cyberbullying predominantly occurs on social media platforms like X, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Instagram. Social media profiles allow people to upload photographs of anything they choose including their photos, details about their hobbies, and updates about their whereabouts. As a result, cyberbullies use this as an opportunity to target specific parts of a victim's life for ridicule. Is this a new form of a cry for help from bullies?
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying refers to bullying conducted through electronic devices. It can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression in both the victim and the bully. Like traditional bullying, cyberbullying takes many forms, including sending threatening emails, posting hurtful comments on social media, sharing private images without consent, sending disparaging text messages, and spreading lies. The most dangerous part of cyberbullying is that it gives bullies the ability to embarrass anyone they want in public at any hour of the day. They can use many types of technology while others applaud themselves for being good at bullying.
Understanding mental health

Mental health affects how we manage life's challenges, emotional and social interactions, and overall well-being. The World Health Organization defines it as our ability to handle life's stresses, realize our abilities, work effectively, and contribute meaningfully to society. A decline in mental health, whether due to a traumatic experience or a long-term mental illness, can significantly impact our lives.
Screen time
With approximately, 5.3-billion people using it worldwide, the internet remains without a central body to govern it. The internet has created a means of interaction among people in which they create, share, and exchange information called social media. According to 'What's the Big Data?' 2023 Statistics, people worldwide spend an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes daily on screens. Gen Z (born between 1996 and 2010) spends the most time online, averaging 7 hours and 18 minutes daily. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1995) follow closely with 6 hours and 42 minutes daily. While some use this time for positive interactions, such as job search, and news, others engage in cyberbullying and harassment.
Examples of cyberbullying posts in Malawi
Example 1
A Valentine's hamper containing bathing gloves, soap, and slippers was shared on X. The comments received were negative and could impact the poster's mental health. Some comments were mean, degrading the seller, and some criticized the gift as cheap and unworthy of a loved one. Although others recognize the different perspectives on gift-giving, the negative comments can be hurtful..
Example 2
Social media has become a community that mocks how one looks, which could decrease self-esteem and confidence. Some people are afraid of posting pictures of their loved ones or their pictures to avoid having their physical appearance mocked.
One lady posted a picture of herself with her fiance when he went to ask for her hand in marriage. She covered the man's face, and people started bullying her. One X user who followed the conversation commented on March 5, 2024, “In less than 24 hours, you people have attacked a woman for not showing her partner’s face on a post and attacked another one for showing her partner’s face. What is it you want exactly?” he asked.
Additionally, recently, One X user started a campaign, creating hurt, asking people to unfollow another user, who called him Y after a disagreement, which led to a decrease of Y followers and people posting hurtful comments about how Y looks.
Does the bully need as much help as the victim?
Should bullies be bullied back?
How best can countries govern the Internet to reduce cyberbullying cases?
Should we focus on victims or perpetrators?

Hiding behind a keyboard gives bullies a false sense of confidence to be harsh, especially if they are dealing with personal issues. Health Direct suggests that individuals who bully others may have low self-esteem and feel validated through aggressive behavior. Some resort to bullying as retaliation for their own experiences with bullying. Furthermore, those who bully without provocation may be struggling with sadness or dissatisfaction in their own lives. Happy individuals are unlikely to harass others online unless they are incentivized.
Taking Action
Could these actions be a cry for help?
Cyberbullying can have long-lasting effects on both victims and perpetrators. Bullies may struggle with depression, self-doubt, or aggressive behavior throughout their lives just as victims may experience feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, or self-doubt.
Food for thoughts

Thanks for reading :)
References
1. Garcelle Beauvais. Our Social Experiment, What’s our responsibility? The Cybersmile Foundation. 2020.
2. Greenwood Micheal. The Impact of Cyberbullying on Mental Health. 2023.
3. Schlack R, Peerenboom N, Neuperdt L, Junker S, Beyer AK. The effects of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence in young adults:
4. What's The Big Data? Average Screen Time Statistics (2024).
5. World Health Organization. Mental Health. 2020.