What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying refers to online harassment using social media platforms, emails, messaging apps, community forums, and gaming platforms. In cyberbullying, attackers spread false rumours, post embarrassing videos and photos, write hateful comments, threaten in direct messages, and gang up in group chats to target a single person. Since it is done on the internet that never sleeps, the targeted person is followed everywhere, and the effect of maligning social status reaches a wide audience. Bullies often say things that they can never say in someone`s face. People who experience cyberbullying often feel hurt mentally. Their confidence and sense of safety are affected really badly.
What are the Common Types of Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying happens in different forms, such as trolling, blackmailing, impersonating, doxxing etc. The bullies use different means and methods to exploit the fear, emotions, and embarrassment of an individual. They hoax and heckle him using different online platforms and communication channels. In the process, everything thrives on the silence and shame of the victim. So, here are some common types of cyberbullying:
Flaming
Think of it as a digital shouting match. Two or more people throwing angry, vulgar, or downright nasty words at each other in comment sections, group chats, or forums. It’s like a street fight that is fought with keyboards.
Harassment
This isn’t just a one-off rude comment; it’s a pattern. Repeated, offensive, and insulting messages that just won’t stop showing up in your inbox or notifications. It feels like someone is camping in your DMs with bad vibes only.
Denigration
In simple terms, these are called smear campaigns. People spread lies, half-truths, or twisted stories online to damage your social reputation. It’s gossip 2.0, and the internet makes it travel faster than wildfire.
Impersonation
Here’s where it gets sneaky. A bully pretends to be you. To do so, he uses fake accounts or hacked profiles to post embarrassing stuff, send shady messages, or just mess with your real self and social identity. Basically, it can be labeled as identity theft with malice.
Outing
This type of cyberbullying happens when someone shares your private or embarrassing info, pictures, or videos without your consent. When someone likes someone, they air your dirty laundry on the internet for the world to see. Cruel and invasive.
Exclusion
Exclusion can sound subtle, but it stings. People who target you deliberately left you out of online groups, parties in WhatsApp chats, or tagged posts. It’s the digital equivalent of everyone hanging out without inviting you. This creates a feeling of neglecting online apartheid.
Cyberstalking
This one’s darker. Cyberstalking is a continuous harassment, threats, and constant monitoring of your online activities. Bullies show up everywhere and start making you feel mean. They do this to instill fear in you. They put hurdles in your way and try to heckle you anywhere you go. Imagine someone lurking in the shadows of every platform you use; it’s invasive, scary, and in many places, criminal. Bullies follow you everywhere you go. You feel scared turning at every corner.
The Trolls
These are the ones who just live to stir the pot. They drop nasty comments, provoke fights, or post inflammatory stuff online. This is their method that they use just to get a reaction from the targeted person. You can think of them as the internet’s class clowns. The only thing about them is that they are mean-spirited.
The Rumor Spreaders
These bullies love gossip. They twist words, create false stories, or share private info to damage your reputation in social circles. When the rumours go online, social media exaggerates them, making a tiny rumor feel like headline news.
The Impersonators
Some bullies take it a step further by creating fake profiles pretending to be you—or someone else—to embarrass or scam. It’s identity theft with a personal vendetta.
The Harassers
Harrassers are relentless bullies who keep bothering you again and again. They send threatening messages, tag you in humiliating posts. They constantly spam your inbox by sending you unwanted text messages full of shit and insults. Their goal is to make you feel worried, scared, nervous, and powerless to act against injustice.
The Exclusionists
These bullies play the “silent treatment” game online. They ignore you on purpose and pretend that you don’t exist. They deliberately leave someone out of groups, chats, or social media circles to make you feel unwelcome, isolated, and rejected.
The Blackmailers
Blackmailers are the most dangerous cyberbullies. They blackmail and manipulate you by using your private and sensitive information, such as photos, videos, and other sensitive details that can have serious consequences on your social status if they are published through online platforms. Using your private information, they force you to do whatever they want. They threaten you that if you do not comply with them, they will publish all the details on public platforms.
What Negative Effects Cyberbullying Causes on Individuals?
Cyberbullying can take a mental and emotional toll on the targeted person. As a consequence, the person can feel anxiety, isolated, and physically secluded in society. These thighs affect every corner of their life, be it mental or physical well-being. Here are some common effects cyberbullying can cause on a person:
Emotional Rollercoaster
People who experience cyberbullying can go through a serious mental mess. They can feel one thing at one moment, and the next, they self-doubt everything. This emotional rollercoaster triggers feelings of anxiety, depression, low confidence, and more. When someone goes through these things, small notifications on their device feel like landmines.
Social Isolation
Constant cyberbullying makes the victim pull back from social presence. They stop all their social media activities or posting about their life events and anything that they like or are interested in. They become ghosts from online platforms. It is a strong sign of loneliness and being cut off from interactions.
Academic and Work Struggles
People who are mentally abused and harassed online often struggle with their academic and work struggles. They lose their focus in studies, and normal things feel like an uphill battle. As a result of this, their motivation hits rock bottom, they miss deadlines, and score low grades in their exams. It happens because their focus is already shifted to other things.
Physical Affects
Stress, anxiety, and depression caused by cyberbullying do not remain limited to the mental state. It shows up in the physical state as well. When you have sleepless nights, constant headaches, mental fatigue, and an upset stomach, you become physically fragile and vulnerable. Your immune system is slow, and you feel helpless in fighting small ailments. If the condition worsens, it takes a huge toll on the overall physical well-being.
Identity and Self-Worth Crisis
Cyberbullying leaves deep scars on an individual`s personality. It chips away at a person’s self-esteem, leaving them doubting their worth and abilities. The constant pressure often leads to more anxiety, sadness, or depression. Victims often withdraw from friends, family, or even daily life. It leaves a life-long trauma on the person and shapes the mentality and identity of the same person. He is never the same person after the sad event. Their perspective changes, and they become suspicious of everything they interact with and around the world.
Suicidal Thoughts
Victims of cyberbullying often become prone to feelings of self-harm. Suicidal thoughts come into thier mind. The constant harassment becomes intolerable, and they think of ending their life all the time to get rid of the pain and mental torture. This is the darkest side and worst impact of cyberbullying. Individuals who face this often feel helpless and confused.
How to Deal with Cyberbullies?
So, how do you deal with cyberbullying when it comes knocking on your door through online platforms? The first thing you need to do is not just sit back and take it. Take screenshots of everything. Save every fact and figure about the attackers. If you’ve got proof, you’ve got power. Next, don’t be shy about hitting that block button. It’s not petty, it’s peace. Blocking the bullies can prevent them disabled from approaching you and harassing you. After this, report the abuse to the concerned social media platform.
Most social media platforms offer security and the right to protect their privacy, and social boundaries. They take appropriate action against the harassers and block them from misusing the online platforms to abuse people. So reporting them will help you get rid of the cyberbullies and enable the platforms to take robust steps against the anti-social elements. Along with this, here is the strong advice that you can follow to deal with cyberbullying:
Don’t take the Bait
Firing back usually just pours fuel on the fire. Silence can be more powerful than a comeback.
Keep the Receipts
Screenshot or save nasty posts, texts, or images—you’ll need proof if things escalate.
Hit the Block Button
Most platforms let you block or mute trolls. Use it. It’s like shutting the door on unwanted noise.
Report it
Every major social media app has a “report” option. Don’t hesitate to flag abusive behavior.
Open up to Someone you Trust
A friend, a sibling, a mentor, or even a therapist—talking it out helps lighten the load.
Know the Rules
Cyberbullying isn’t just “mean online behavior.” In some cases, it breaks school codes or even the law.
Reach out for Help
If you’re feeling crushed, anxious, or having harmful thoughts, don’t carry it alone—professional help can make all the difference.
