What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying on social media is using the digital platforms to repeatedly harass, threaten, humiliate, or target individuals through mean comments, rumors, sharing embarrassing, private or fake content. It often involves creating fake accounts or anonymous comments that can occur all the time. I will be focusing on the ages between 11-18.

Types of Cyberbullying

Harassment

Online harassment involves the transmission of malicious, abusive, or threatening messages directed at an individual. This behavior is frequently triggered by difference of opinions or prejudice against a victim’s appearance, interests, religion, or race. In most cases the culprit utilizes fabricated or anonymous accounts to get to their victim while evading accountability. Long term harassment can cause depression, anxiety, diminished self-esteem, and in extreme cases, self-harm on the victim.

Spreading False Accusations and Rumors

A false accusation constitutes an allegation of wrongdoing that is untrue or not supported by facts. The spread of such claims frequently occurs when a blameworthy individual attempts to evade consequences of their actions by deliberately deflecting the blame onto an innocent party.

Spreading a rumor is the circulation of unverified information or gossip that is not backed by confirmed facts. The spread of such details frequently occurs when a malicious individual attempts to damage someone’s social standing by deliberately passing unproven stories onto a wider audience.

Exclusion

Exclusion is the deliberate act of isolating an individual from online communities, digital conversations, or friend groups to inflict emotional distress. This behavior is usually motivated by difference of opinions, discriminatory judgments about a victim’s physical looks, including weight or height, or their personal preferences in hobbies, fashion, and lifestyle choices. Exclusion often serves as a social penalty for differing from expected gender norms; for example, teenage boys may face severe exclusion from male peers if they mostly associate with female friend groups. The psychological impact of being purposefully excluded is fierce, often leaving the targeted individual with deep feelings of loneliness and a severely damaged sense of belonging.

“Ragebait”

Ragebait is the intentional making and sharing of digital content that is meant to make people angry, upset, or frustrated. This strategy often uses false information, exaggerated claims, or media taken out of context to take advantage of people’s emotional weaknesses and get them to interact with the content more. Consuming inflammatory content on a regular basis not only degrades constructive digital discourse but can also lead to heightened societal polarization, chronic stress, and a distorted perception of reality among users.

Doxxing

Doxxing is sharing an individual’s private, personally identifiable information across public digital platforms with no consent. Culprits systematically expose sensitive data, including home addresses, personal contact details like phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and government-issued identification numbers such as a TCKN, entirely without the victim’s consent.

Actions to Take

Do not respond

Do not respond to any negative messages or comments that are trying to target or bully you online. Responding will only encourage them to take it further and can demoralize you even more.

Save evidence

Take screenshots, record videos, and save voice messages. Keep a record of everything that is happening. You will need every piece of evidence you have when reporting them.

Block and Report

Block any accounts that try to contact and bully you online. Report the accounts to the platform, and report the abuse to your local helplines. For example, Alo 141 and internetyardim.org.tr are useful helplines in Turkey.

Seek help

Local helplines might not be enough if the cyberbullying escalates to a dangerous level, such as doxxing or threats of physical harm. If that is the case, tell everything to a trusted adult immediately. Call your local police and start an investigation.

Written by: Hasan Çınar Çelik