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




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