Ways Of How To Prevent Cyber Bullying In Modern Society

Introduction

Have you heard the word cyber bullying? Cyber bullying is a new word that comes from cyber, which means virtual space, and bullying, which means violence. In the article 'Protecting Victims of Cyber bullying', Champagne said that 'Cyber bullying is defined as repeated harassment and mistreatment by a person who may tease another on social media websites, while using a cell phone, or by other electronic means.' (Champagne, 2017). Although physical violence and bullying in schools has been reduced recently, a new form of cyber bullying have sharply risen. 'Ninety-three percent of teens between the ages of twelve to seventeen go online for extensive periods each day... According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, adolescents have also completely embraced online social networking. As of the fall of 2009, seventy-three percent of teens between the ages of twelve and seventeen use such sites, an increase from fifty-eight percent in 2007. Adolescents' constant connection contributes to the destructive nature of cyberbullying.' (Albin, 2012). Considering that the modern society is into a society that is always connected with other people anytime, anywhere through smartphones and the Internet, cyber bullying has high potential and will become more serious in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to create a system that fosters the correct cyber culture through prevention education against cyberbullying.

First of all, cyber bullying can cause more problems than traditional bullying due to the nature of virtual space. In the article 'Troll Hunters' shows that 'a 2014 study by Pew Research in Washington DC showed that 40 per cent of internet users have been harassed and 66 per cent of those said the most recent instance was on social media.' (Adee, 2016). Cyber bullying is made is not only delivered to the victim immediately depending on the nature of the network connected in real time, but it is also likely to suffer indiscriminate violence 24 hours a day because of no the lack of time and space constraints. 'Another unique problem that differentiates cyberbullying from traditional bullying is cyberbullying's ability to instantly send hurtful and humiliating content to thousands of people.' (Albin, 2012). In addition, it is not easy to actually know who's the perpetrator in cyber space because it can deceive one's identity. In the article 'The key to curbing online abuse', Teitel explains that 'It's the thing we cherish most about the Internet: it's anonymity... The wonders of the social web-- assume another identity in a chat room, stalk your ex-boyfriend's Facebook page 300 times a day without his ever knowing it -- would be impossible without the gift of digital disguise. But so, too, might cyberbullying...The cyber anonymity available gave people the power to treat each other like strangers in the tabloids.' (Teitel, 2013).

Secondly, cyber bullying has immediately and in the long-term serious effects in the mental health of victims. The perpetrators are unlikely to be made face-to-face with victims, so it is difficult to accurately recognize how much the victims are suffering. Therefore, cyber bullying causes frustration, anxiety, stress and depression, which devastates victims psychologically and emotionally for a long time and it can adversely affects teenager' learning. 'Cyberbullying can cause victims to suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. School-aged victims also may stop going to class, neglect homework.'(Champagne, 2017). 'Cyberbullying results in serious trauma because they don't see the pain of the victims directly... significantly disrupting their mental and social development.' (Niklova, 2019)(패러프라이징) In addition, as the damage continues and intensifies, the victims suffer from thoughts and impulses about suicide and end up killing themselves. For example, 'One was the case of Amanda Todd, from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, who killed herself after being “cyber-bullied. Amanda Todd posted an eight-minute video where she explained, through flash cards how she and her friends were talking on a web-cam with another person. Todd was threatened by a stranger by an incident revealing her breasts to the camera, and her photos was posted on the internet. Because of the continued insult from people, her family moved to another city to start afresh, but Todd was unable to escape the past due to continued mocking. She hung herself in 2012, at age 15. (Luhtanen, 2013)

Thirdly, cyber bullying can instill false perception in young people. Cyber bulling can happen to everyone, but it is becoming even more problematic, especially among teenagers. This is because the perpetrators do not feel as much guilt as the severity of the damage, and do not perceive it as a crime. Rather, the perpetrators tend to perceive cyberbullying as an act that strengthens the culture of entertainment, play, and even ties and friendship between themselves, showing a low awareness of its seriousness. “Cyber bullying is creating doing it in fun, to show off, or to look 'cool' in front of their friends... they do not consider or understand the consequences of their acts or realize that they may even be committing a crime.” (FLORENO, 2011). Also, such misperceptions are likely to lead to criminal behavior when they become adults. 'victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying are more likely to engage in future criminal conduct. Researchers have reported that individuals with a history of bullying are four times more likely to engage in criminal behavior by their mid-twenties'(Albin, 2012.)

Finally, eradicating cyber bullying requires preventive training to raise awareness of cyber ethics so that a sound and proper cyber culture can be created. Cyber bullying children and teens don't know who can help because they tend not to know why these attacks are happening to them. Therefore, to prevent or eliminate cyber bullying, members of all societies, including governments, schools and parents, must share these issues together. Furthermore, social members should monitor the Internet together and the government should strengthen the system for punishing cyber bullying. 'There are several proactive steps that school administrators can take to prevent cyber bullying, according to Patti Agatston (author of Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age). Educate students and staff on how to apply cyber bullying behaviors and policies, and supervise and monitor them appropriately. In addition, systems for reporting cyber bullying need to be strengthened and effective response to reports coming in. If these principles are strengthened, we will significantly reduce these problems in the internet. '(WOJCIK, 2012).

Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and the Internet is a place where freedom of expression and participation are guaranteed more than ever. 'Twenty-one percent of students in Grades 7 to 11 have reported meeting an Internet friend online and 72% said that it was a good experience.' (Luhtanen, 2009).This seems to have many advantages on the surface; however, cyberbullying is a phenomenon that clearly illustrates the dark side of modern society where high-level Internet networks are built. This can lead to serious social problems if moral norms and institutions that can maximize the value of the Internet are not properly supported. Therefore, young people need to have a culture of respect and mutual understanding by sharing their ideas and opinions without attacking others. 'Even though everyone has the right to express their opinion anywhere, they should not be attacking people with different opinion. Identity is not something that can be changed or influenced by abusive behavior, and no one should ever attempt to do so. A world that is truly fair and equal requires a culture of respect and mutual understanding.' (Hackett, 2016).

Conclusion

In conclusion, cyber-bullying has many harmful effects for young people. The reason why cyber violence is more dangerous than physical violence is because it does not come out clearly and because the nature of the violence does not make it easy for the perpetrators to be seen directly by the perpetrators, it is likely that it will be repeated as a simple. In addition, it is highly propagating and the damage is not apparent, so the exact form of the damage is not known until the extreme situation is reached. Strengthening the punishment of laws and systems can be one way to root out cyber bullying. But unconditional legal punishment is less effective, given that cyber bullying is adolescents who fail to properly recognize how serious the problem is. Therefore, active attention and participation from both parents and schools is required to take care of mentally immature teenagers. Also, if all members of society - the government, schools and parents - come up with a solution by sharing the problem together, people can create a healthy and just cyber culture so that they can enjoy the Internet.