There are certain events in life that can have traumatizing and harrowing effects on children. Often times the root causes must be figured out in time in order to avoid any life-long effects. However, the first step stems from figuring out there’s something wrong with your child’s behavior in the first place. One such issue happens to be cyberbullying. Because of which children often act out of the ordinary. But instead of ignoring their unruly behaviors or putting them aside as “they’re acting according to their age”, it would be an injustice to them. An Online Assignment Help would say that any type of bullying can scar kids physically and psychologically, so you must be there for them once you realize what’s troubling them. So let’s have a look at how cyberbullying can impact kids.
Emotional Effect
Being aware of all the effects of cyberbullying will equip you to be able to support your child when they’re in need of it. In addition, you’ll know how to talk to your child and support them in the most stressful ways when they’re having a hard time coping up with their current situation.
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Humiliation
Once someone becomes a victim of cyberbullying, the effects can be long-lasting as it’s something that takes place in cyberspace. Once it has happened, it’s out there for everyone to gawk at. You cannot erase it from existence. This thought can shatter the confidence of your child. They may be forced to contemplate over it every moment of the day.
With the post out there, people will continue to share it with other people and continue to ridicule your child. There’d be a new kind of humiliation that your kid may have to face. That’s why they’d feel the urge to lock themselves in their rooms as they’re unable to face the world.
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Isolation
As mentioned earlier, when faced with such turmoil where everyone else keeps making fun of them, kids often have no choice but prefer solitary confinement. They fear that if they were to try and mingle with other people, they’d be making themselves a subject of ridiculement. Hence They avoid people’s company altogether. Sometimes, the victims may be ostracized because the other kids fear they’d have to suffer through the same fate as well.
Parents often take away their child’s computer and mobile phone in an attempt to soften the blow; however, it might just end up making them feel more secluded and lonely.
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Powerlessness
Victims of cyberbullying often find it hard to trust other people and to open up, because of which they find themselves in a position unable to do anything for themselves, leading to feeling helpless. They believe that they cannot be safe anywhere and that bullies would be able to find them no matter where they are, and despite trying to put up a bravado to protect themselves, they might not be able to do a single thing when the time comes.
Sometimes kids find solace in the online communities, but once their safe haven has been invaded. The fact that the bullies remain faceless results in amping up their fears as they begin to suspect every other person.
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Anger
Another overpowering feeling that most victims go through is that of anger. Researchers have indicated that anger is the most common response to getting cyberbullied. It might stem from self-hatred on the basis why they even let something like this happened to themselves, and then it may be directed towards the bullies.
A side-effect of this anger may lead to victimized kids plotting revenge which is likely not to end in a peaceful manner for anyone. This retaliation approach may just turn them into a bully themselves, whether intentionally or unintentionally, resulting in a bully-victim cycle which cannot be determined safe in any case.
Mental Effects
Cyberbullying can impact an individual’s mental state heavily. They may begin to see the world differently compared to their peers they are with. They may often resort to feeling hopeless and finding no joy in the world. Such kids often lose interest in activities they used to participate in avidly and be closed off from their family even.
- Low self-esteem
Cyberbullying can completely drain your child’s self-esteem. The victimized kids become more insecure about themselves and the things they like more than ever. They begin to overthink every single decision of theirs even when it never used to bother them before. Their confidence level lowers down considerably as they doubt their self-worth and question their abilities.
Researchers speculated that young people possess an intense need to be accepted and be a part of their peers. However, cyberbullying can severely mar this process leading to maladjustment and reduced well-being.
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Academic Issues
As a result of cyberbullying, many victimized kids lose interest in going to school because of which their academic performance can suffer by a huge margin. To avoid becoming the subject of talk, they chose to be absent and rather stay at home under the pretense of being sick. By missing classes and tests, your kid will eventually get low grades from their lack of interest and concentration in the studies. Not only that. Even at times, teachers fail to notice a kid’s disinterest and are likely to think of them as being reckless.
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Depression and Anxiety
A victim of cyberbullying may also exhibit signs of depression and/or anxiety. With the lack of interest in life altogether. A victimized kid is likely to get depressed. They might also develop a continuous anxious state that may not let them even sleep in peace. In addition. the lack of self-confidence and self-worth can contribute to the increase in depression. Nearly 93% of the victims have reported feeling sad. Powerless and hopeless.
The effects of cyberbullying can heavily impact your child’s well-being. You must keep a vigilant eye on them so that they can be given a hand when they need it the most. UK Writing Experts would suggest that if you come to know someone who has been bullied. Treat them with the utmost kindness.
