Cyberbullying is online bullying. Offensive comments, public display of personal information, threats to someone online are all forms of cyberbullying. To avoid this, develop some smart habits. For example, limit the content of what you post on the Internet, and also reliably protect information about yourself. If you are already dealing with bullying, do your best to shorten your relationship with these people. If you are concerned about cyberbullying in your community, please contact other members to voice your protest and propose a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Protecting Personal Information Online
Step 1. Do not post anything on the Internet that you would like to keep secret
Personal messages, photos, texts and other content are not truly private information. As soon as such content appears on the web, your abuser can copy it and use it against you. It is best not to post anything obscene, compromising, or overly personal.
Take the “grandmother's test” as a universal rule: before you share something online, ask yourself if you could show it to your grandmother. If not, it might be worth keeping it a secret
Step 2. Use your social media privacy settings
Most social networks and similar services allow you to choose who can view your posts on the Internet. For example, you can make your profile and notes in it private so that their content is visible only to your subscribers.
By making your account private, you will restrict strangers' access to information about you, while not completely hiding it
Step 3. Limit the number of online friends
It is very easy to communicate with many people using social networks and other resources. However, if you limit your virtual circle to only people you know and trust, you are more likely to avoid cyberbullying.
- You are not obligated to accept friend requests, messages, invitations, etc. from people you do not know or do not trust.
- If any of your friend or subscriber begins to show signs of aggression, you can immediately remove him from your profile or unsubscribe from his page.
Step 4. Protect your password
If it is simple, someone can hack into your personal information, your social media accounts, or your communication devices, which can cause many problems. If, for example, your abuser can log into your social network account, he may post bad things on your behalf or disturb your friends. To prevent this, do the following:
- do not write down passwords, do not store them on your phone or share them with someone else;
- change passwords regularly.
Step 5. Restrict access to your devices and profiles
Be careful not to let a potential abuser gain access to your files or accounts and use this information to poison your life. For example, log out of your profile each time after using a public or shared computer. Also, do not give access to your personal devices to strangers or those you do not trust.
Method 2 of 3: Dealing with bullies
Step 1. If possible, ignore the abuser
Such people "feed" on someone else's disorder. If you ignore this person, he will not get as much pleasure. This can be your first line of defense against most internet attacks.
- Ignore the abuser only if it happened for the first time online and if the comment (or action) is released in a relatively mild manner.
- If the actions are repeated or intensified, fight back.
Step 2. Resist the urge to return fire
If someone says something rude on the Internet, there is a desire to say something bad about this person. However, attempts at revenge rarely work in the case of online abusers."Trolls" feed on upset people in response to their offensive comments or posts on the network. Don't give them this pleasure.
Step 3. Block everyone who bothers you
If you are having problems with someone, and even if you do not see it as full-fledged cyberbullying, you should cut all virtual contact with that person. Email services, social media, cell phone providers and other communication tools all provide ways to block certain users.
Step 4. Save evidence of any bullying or aggression
If the abuser poisons your life, just keep a record of their hostile behavior. Keep copies of all emails or files, take screenshots of all messages, and so on. That way, if you need to put the bully back in place, you have evidence to stop him.
Step 5. Get the help of a trusted person
Whether you are the target of bullying, feel in danger of being bullied, or just want to end the problem, tell someone else what is happening. If you are under the age of majority, contact an adult, such as a parent or school counselor. You can also ask a friend or teacher for support.
Method 3 of 3: Dealing with Online Bullying
Step 1. Help other people who are being bullied on the Internet
Stand up for those who are bullied online, whether that person is your friend or not. There are many ways to come to the rescue, from something small to full-scale action. For example:
- If you notice that someone is being bullied online, write them a message of encouragement.
- Be open about your negative attitude and rejection of online bullying.
- Cheer up acquaintances who have been bullied on the Internet. Greet them online, have lunch together, or just try to be their friend.
Step 2. Don't support inappropriate information
If someone you know posts something rude, offensive or offensive, do not like this post, do not repost or share it. The same goes for gossip: stay away from it. By drawing attention to inappropriate information, you only exacerbate the problem of cyberbullying or even become a victim of it yourself.
Think twice before liking or sharing, even if it sounds funny to you. Ask yourself: Would it be funny for me if an obscene or nasty recording touched me?
Step 3. Spread the positive
You can act as a model for others to behave and, at the same time, help prevent online bullying. When commenting on someone's posts or responses online, be supportive, friendly, and encouraging, not aggressive or sarcastic.
Step 4. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem
You can even take formal steps against online bullying. Talk to your school administration, neighbors, or class about signing an anti-bullying petition. Then you can post it online so that others will know about your principles. The power of bullying will subside when people see that others do not support it.
Step 5. Activate the local population to fight against bullying on the Internet
Talk to those around you if you think this is a serious problem. Together, you can work to raise awareness of the issue, create protest petitions, and provide support to anyone who has been bullied online.
Step 6. Teach young people to make the right decisions online
If you are a parent or adult who is worried about a child being bullied online, talk to the child about the problem and how to keep yourself safe online. You can also set a limit on how much time your child spends online at a computer, phone, or other gadget to reduce the risk of bullying.