Teenagers today might seem to encounter fewer negative aspects of social interactions at school than they did a long time ago. Compared to some of the incidents in the past, many people might think that adolescents today do not experience bullying at all. But, bullying has never completely disappeared from teenagers’ lives; rather, it has just taken on a new, distinct shape that differs from the older forms of bullying.
A lot of the time, bullying happens online. These incidents may not seem that serious at all, but they do create a great deal of burden for those who experience them. Exclusion today can take many different forms. For example, it might occur in a group chat when some people are not selected to be on them or when members of the group gossip about someone using technology. Another frequent occurrence is the spreading of unflattering photos without permission and often anonymously. Anonymous messages online can also be very hurtful. The sender cannot be identified but this still causes emotional distress to the recipient. Also, bullies can use alternative accounts to comment on someone’s posts and leave without a trace of who they are.
Bullying can also be very subtle. Simply unfriending an individual or blocking them on social media can be very upsetting as it leaves that person wondering what they might have done wrong. Teens may also post photos or videos of parties or social events, leaving those who were not invited feeling left out.
Cyberbullying is not obvious in the outside world, so naturally, adults are less aware of it. The bully can do and say anything online, without even looking at the person they are affecting. Because they have an incredibly low chance of getting caught or held responsible for the hate they spread, bullies can be especially cruel online. In most cases like this, the bullies may not even consider that what they are doing is ‘bullying’ as they are not physically or verbally confronting the victim. There is often no way to find out what is happening online unless the victim comes forward or seeks help. Thus, it makes this type of bullying very hard to put an end to.
With the aid of social media, rumours can be spread very quickly, whether they are true or not, which can ruin people’s relationships with each other. As described, bullying can occur in many ways without physically confronting someone, leaving twice as much impact on the victim. These new and subtle forms of bullying are very covert, giving the impression that the victims were not bullied at all. The only way to stop this type of bullying is to make adults and kids more familiar with it, so they can identify if something is happening to them or they are being cyberbullies. The sooner bullies are exposed for their actions and those affected receive help, the better the teenage experience can be.
