Bullying has always been around. It’s just the way that bullying takes place and how it hurts people that changes. Despite popular belief, even adults experience bullying. However, many cases of bullying happen with younger people and children.
In 2022, technology has become more of a tool than ever before. More and more people have started to work from home, order food from home, and even attend school from home. With a lack of in-person social interaction, bullying has taken more of a turn into the lane of cyberbullying, which can be just as harmful, if not worse.
Here are some ways that cyberbullying impacts people in 2022.
Cyberbullying Is Everywhere
Bullying online, also known as cyberbullying, is a form of bullying that can be done over the internet, social media, and texting/messages.
In 2022, several forms of popular social media are used by the majority of people in the world. Some of these platforms include:
- Tiktok
- Snapchat
- Tumblr
Many consumers on social media, including children and adolescents, use more than one form of social media or communication online. It has become popular to have an account on every single one and to be as active as possible on all.
For those who experience bullying, this gives an avenue for online bullies to target them in more than one location to more than one audience. This online open space leaves way for hundreds of bullies instead of just one.
For this reason, people are getting attacked on a global scale, even by people they do not know. Detecting cyberbullying early and using online boundaries to cut it off is imperative in stopping it.
Cancelling Is the New Social Isolation
In younger adult communities, it has become commonplace to “cancel” or mass bully someone. You can be canceled for anything, regardless of whether you actually did it or if it’s wrong or not. If someone thinks you deserve to be canceled, you can be.
The problem with this is that canceling takes on the same format of bullying on a larger scale. It includes:
- Cutting someone off from relationships
- Removing someone from their job
- Threatening someone
- Trying to remove the person’s right to resources
- Trying to cut the person off from getting help
- Isolation
- Using large groups of people to continuously bombard the person with hateful comments
Regardless of whether someone has done what they’re being accused of, large-scale isolation and bullying online is highly harmful and is not the answer. Many people experience trauma due to online bullying and canceling, and many people take their lives over it.
How to Confront Cyberbullying in 2022
First and foremost, if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you’re not alone. Call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). They can help you.
If you are not in a crisis situation, there are some ways you can confront bullying online. Here are some great methods.
Blocking
If someone is treating you unkindly or bullying you online, block them. Even in cases where you are being bullied by hundreds of people online, you can block them. There is no limit on how many people you can block.
It may feel isolating to have to remove a ton of previous friends or people that you thought of as followers. However, your mental health is essential, and keeping these people in your circle is going to hurt you more.
If people continue to find ways to contact you, continue to block them. If it doesn’t stop, create a new profile and only give the profile to people you truly trust.
Getting Away
It may benefit you to take a small break from the internet. We know that the internet is everywhere in 2022, and it’s not possible to always cut yourself off completely. In fact, online media is one of the most significant forms of connection today.
However, taking a small break for a week or so from checking your messages, emails, and accounts can give you the time you need to speak to someone about what’s going on and get help. You can even report cyberbullying online or to your police department if it’s getting to an illegal level.
Removing Personal Information
Cyberbullies and people who do not know you and want to hurt you online may try to use your personal information against you. This can include:
- Your workplace
- Your family’s names
- Your phone number
- Your email
- Your address
- Information about your pets, family, and friends
- Information about you
If you have any information on your profile that gives away these huge details of your life, it’s time to hide them or remove them. Don’t let people have access to something that could give them the power to hurt your real life.
If someone is trying to contact your job, family, or friends, let the people in your life know to ignore it. In cases where you have lost a job or been defamed for something false, you can take a claim to civil court and get a lawyer.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
