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Despite the fact that cyberbullying is a relatively new field of research, it constitutes a serious health and social issue, with devastating effects on adolescents’ lives, related to their behavior and temperament, but most importantly to their development and mental health. Summarized, cyberbullying can be described as the intentional harm from one or more persons that occurs in cyberspace. It involves mobile phones (phone calls, text messages, pictures/videos) or using the internet (emails, chat rooms, social media, websites).
The increasing use of the network and mobile phones among adolescents, the extensive presence on social media and the fact that many would rather tolerate negative effects than be disconnected, are some of the factors that undoubtedly constitute cyberbullying a public health concern. Indeed, nowadays, adolescents have direct internet access from personal computers and mobile devices, whether at home, schools or in public places and are connected to social media at a time when their social and emotional intelligence, as well their capacity to self-regulate, are not yet adequately developed.
It is important to notice that all adverse stressful or traumatic experiences that occur during the first years of life, are pervasive and prominent public health problems. That being the case, cyberbullying incidents are responsible for the onset psychological and/or somatic symptoms of unclear reason. In particular, cyberbullying victims present high levels of depression, behavioural problems, anxiety, loneliness and they tend to have lower self-esteem. Such symptoms, may trigger a sequence of events that could result in suicidal acts.
Increasing awareness among adults and parents is a critical step against cyberbullying. Unfortunately, many parents are not aware of the consequences of the extensive and uncontrolled use of the internet and mobile phones. Information of the child’s potential victimization and how to develop and maintain communication can effectively prevent or help cure cyberbullying incidents.
Teachers and school counselors and administrators, should also receive training on how to detect and countermeasure this increasing social issue. Furthermore, paediatricians and paediatric health care providers should gain knowledge in order to support the social and developmental well-being of children raised in various conditions and in new types of social and health problems.
To conclude, training and detailed guidelines constitute a useful framework for all concerned to decrease incidents of cyberbullying and they should be widespread to assist parents, young people and school teachers so as to recognize the problem and take effective action.
Sources:
Ferrara et al. (2018), “Cyberbullying a modern form of bullying: let’s talk about this health and social problem”, Ital J Pediatr 44, (14)
Zhu et al. (2021), “Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: A comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors and preventive measures”, Front. Public Health 9:634909