How can social media bullying be prevented?

Social media started gaining more and more prominence ever since, the introduction of sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn etc. Although, social media has benefited the society in many ways like meeting new people, creating awareness about what`s going on in the world, networking and growing your business or else having a lot career options it has also proved to be quite toxic for which social media bullying is quite evident. Social media cyberbullying statistics show that over 65% of parents around the world cite cyberbullying on social media as one of their greatest worries. It has proved to be quite detrimental especially for teenagers who have suffered from poor self-esteem which continued to haunt them for the rest of their lives and some have even taken the harsh step of committing suicide due, to this. The top 3 countries where cyberbullying is the most prevalent are India, Brazil, and the United States, but it is a common occurrence everywhere. Of all the social networks, kids on YouTube are the most likely to be cyberbullied at 79 percent, followed by Snapchat at 69 percent, TikTok at 64 percent, and Facebook at 49 percent.

Internet trolling is a common form of bullying that takes place in an online community (such as online gaming or social media) in order to elicit a reaction or disruption, or simply just for someone's own personal amusement. Cyberstalking is another form of bullying or harassment that uses electronic communications to stalk a victim; this may pose a credible threat to the victim.

There are many reasons for social media bullying however, let me bring out the main reasons for this problem:

1.) Revenge - Sometimes, the bully-victims want others to feel what they have felt and feel justified in doing so. By cyberbullying others, they also may feel a sense of relief and vindication for what they experienced.

2.) Boredom - Kids who are bored and looking for entertainment will sometimes resort to cyberbullying to add some excitement and drama to their lives due to, lack of parental supervision & attention.

3.) Power - Kids who are trying to climb the social ladder at school or gain some social power will resort to cyberbullying to get attention. They also might cyberbully to diminish the social status of another person by spreading rumors or else making the other person feel ugly.

Every problem comes with a solution. Firstly, the person should speak out about his or her experience to his or her parents for which parents should be approachable enough. Secondly, it’s important to stand together and look for long-term solutions to cyberbullying. In 2015 Canada passed a bill into law that made it illegal to distribute images of a person without their consent, and allows police to obtain a warrant for information about internet users based on “reasonable grounds to suspect” an offense has been perpetrated. The bill wasn’t perfect, but it became a road map for future legislation to keep kids safe on the internet. Thirdly, as parents, it’s crucial to learn all you can about what your children are doing on the internet and with their smartphones. Consider cybersecurity options dedicated to keeping kids safe online.

Awareness in the United States has risen in the 2010s, due in part to high-profile cases. Several US states and other countries have passed laws to combat this problem. Some are designed to specifically target teen social media bullying, while others extend from the scope of physical harassment.In cases of adult cyberharassment, these reports are usually filed beginning with local police. The laws differ by area or state.

Cyberbullying statistics make it clear: This is a persistent, serious problem. Armed with data, open communication and actionable solutions, however, parents and teens can help turn the tide against cyberbullying.