Day 53 – Q 5.What is bullying? Why has it become so rampant on the social media? How can it be addressed? Discuss.

5. What is bullying? Why has it become so rampant on the social media? How can it be addressed? Discuss.  

बुलइंग क्या है? सोशल मीडिया पर इसकी इतनी अधिकता क्यों है? इसे कैसे हल किया जा सकता है? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

Bullying is when an individual or a group of people with more power, repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond. Bullying can continue over time, is often hidden from adults, and will probably continue if no action is taken.

Body

Bullying in social media:

• Against the individual feelings: Posting hurtful, nasty or humiliating rumours or comments about an individual online
• Vested intentions: Publishing an embarrassing or nasty photo or video
• Fake news: Creating a fake or nasty webpage about another individual.
• Vulnerable sections: students, adolescents, transgender are easily prone to bullying. Example: In November 2017, an MBBS student in Kerala jumped to her death from the highest floor of her college building. An examination of her Facebook profile showed her displeasure over the nasty comments made one of her peers. Police suspect that cyber bullying provoked her to take this extreme step
• Provoking and influencing: Issuing online threats provoking an individual to kill themselves or hurt someone else
• In the name of religion: Triggering religious, racial, ethnic or political vitriol online by posting hate comments or content
• Online predatory: Faking an identity online to ask for or post personal or fake information about someone

Measures to avoid cyber bullying:

• Be Wary of Your Child’s Online Activities: Teenagers and adolescents are more vulnerable to cyber bullying as they have limited understanding of the good and the bad
• Watch keenly regarding emotions: Display of emotional responses such as sadness, anger or happiness to the activities on their device.
• Legal framework: No special Anti-Cyber Bullying Laws in India yet. Following are some cyber laws though that covers some of the acts classified as cyber bullying in India.
• Private institution: Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) is a private forensic laboratory in Bangalore and Chennai that offers consultation and digital forensic services for cyber bullying.
• Restore self-respect: Remember that the ultimate goal is to protect and restore the victim’s self-respect. Act thoroughly; fast decisions can only make things worse. Talk to someone about the problem before responding.

Conclusion

Recovering from the trauma of cyber bullying can be time-taking and hard. In such cases, the victim needs support and guidance. It could come from parents, peers, family members or teachers. If required, seek the help of a professional counsellor