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Essay / Bullying: The Causes and Effects of Cyberbullying
In 2006, national law enforcement officials estimated that more than 13 million children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 were victims of cyberbullying (Feinburg and Robey 11). Unfortunately, by the time men and women become adults, most have admitted to being victims of physical, emotional, or mental bullying. Bullies usually do not fully understand the effects they are creating and simply think about themselves and the joy or revenge they receive from bullying another person. Cyberbullying involves sending or posting harmful or cruel texts or images using the Internet, such as: instant messaging, email, chat rooms and social networking sites, as well as other digital communication devices such as cell phones. Bullying is usually accompanied by harassment. For many victims, horrible memories linger in their minds forever and take a toll on their mental health. Unlike children who are physically bullied and the child may not remember the torture over time, cyberbullying is very difficult to forget, especially if his cruel words stay in your phone forever, on social networks or on any other technological device. An 18-year-old college student threw himself off a bridge after his roommate and a friend posted a webcam video of his sexual affair with another man (Uhls). Being bullied for being bisexual, gay, or lesbian is one of the most common topics when it comes to cyberbullying. Unfortunately, most of these people are already sensitive enough about this topic and it only gets worse when they are judged or ridiculed for it. Although these harsh words are very difficult to deal with and understand why the bully decided to go after them, the support of family and friends can be a big help. In some cases, the victim feels too vulnerable and embarrassed to tell a friend or adult. Adolescents who are socially well adjusted and have a healthy peer and family support system are likely to have better decision-making and coping skills. They are generally better equipped to effectively ignore or refute cyberbullying and are less likely to escalate the situation through retaliation. Vulnerable adolescents tend to have poor coping skills, poor relationships, mental health problems, and family difficulties (Feinburg and Robey 14). It is heartbreaking to see innocent children being attacked and feel like there is nothing they can do about the situation except believe it. If they lived in a good family environment or had strong relationships with trusted friends, the problem might not escalate to depression or suicide. We say: “Sticks and stones can break bones, but names can never