Cyberbullying is the newest form of aggression, which involves cruel actions aimed at harassing, harming, and humiliating a person using information and communication tools: mobile phones, e-mail, social networks, etc.
The purpose of cyberbullying varies depending on its form. In any case, it is associated with causing harm to another person. The harm is primarily psychological, but it can also be material or physical if the violence moves from the online environment to the real world.
There are several ways to combat cyberbullying today. Some of them are more popular, others are less effective. According to experts, VPN for PC can help to cope with the problem. You can try these out and protect your data online. VeePN technology will make you anonymous on the Internet and make you invulnerable to any fraudulent activities.
Read below for more information on forms of cyberbullying and how to deal with it.
Main Forms of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can manifest itself in the following forms:
- Flaming – exchange of short angry and inflammatory remarks between two or more participants using communication technologies. It usually takes place in chat rooms, forums, and discussion groups;
- Harassment is most often the involvement of repeated offensive messages directed at the victim. For example, hundreds of messages, constant offensive comments, etc.;
- Denigration – spreading humiliating/offensive false information about a person. These can be text messages, photos, memes, etc.;
- Outing and trickery –obtaining personal information in interpersonal communication and transferring it to others for the purpose of insulting or blackmailing a person;
- Impersonation involves situations where one person pretends to be another, using a password to access an account in social networks, blogs, mail, instant messaging system, etc., and then carries out negative communication;
- Happy slapping is violence for fun. This includes, for example, situations where someone films real-life violence on a phone camera for further distribution on the Internet;
- Online grooming is building a trusting relationship with a future victim in order to obtain intimate photos/videos.
How to Avoid Cyberbullying?
In order to reduce the risk of cyberbullying, it is recommended to control the distribution of your personal information and set up privacy in your own accounts. Your page on social networks should be closed and contain a minimum of personal information.
Check everything you send and post online. Do not share any personal data. Try to take care of the digital footprint you leave on the global network. This includes opening accounts, creating passwords, visiting certain sites, liking, commenting, purchasing, and so on.
Communicate only with people you actually know. Communicating with strangers in chat rooms and forums can be dangerous. The level of danger increases when a stranger asks to share personal information. Be careful and do not do this in any case, because then the information or photo can become objects of blackmail.
Be critical of information posted on the Internet and verify it using multiple sources. This will help establish its authenticity and relevance.
Another important way to reduce the risk of cyberbullying is to use a VPN for gaming. It reliably protects network users, allows them to hide IP addresses, and enjoy online games without any risks.
What Should I Do When I’m Cyberbullied?
Practice shows that user behavior changes when bullied online. A person may be frightened and silent. However, this is the wrong strategy. When you become a victim of cyberbullying, it is important to take effective steps right away to deal with it. It is important to do as described in the paragraphs below.
Stay Calm
The first thing to do is take a deep breath. It will be better to leave the social network where the cyberbullying attack was committed, or turn off the device. Remember that the people who insult you usually have a lot of problems and are just trying to make themselves feel better by attacking others.
Don’t Answer
It is very important not to engage in a conversation with a cyberbully who is looking for ways to make you angry. He wants to draw your attention, force you to answer, to take some action. Therefore, never give what is expected. It is better to ignore messages and comments.
Take Screenshots
Do not delete any of the emails that have been sent to you. This will be good evidence that you have become a victim of cyberbullying.
Block the Cyberbully
Make sure the cyberbully is blacklisted and blocked from contacting you again.
Submit a Complaint
After you block the cyberbully, write to the administrators of the social network so that they take appropriate measures to prevent new cases of attacks.
Share Your Feelings with Someone You Trust
Tell someone you trust about your problem. Friends and family will help you deal with the situation.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take Decisive Action
If all the above measures have been taken, but the attacks do not stop, and you are worried about your safety, take decisive steps – contact the police.
Conclusion
The virtual Internet environment and the latest technical means have created great opportunities for the spread of cyberbullying today. It poses a threat to physical and mental health, so it is important to learn how to protect yourself online. Installing a VPN for browsers is the first step you should take in this case.
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