{"id":2355,"date":"2026-07-26T22:50:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T21:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/?p=2355"},"modified":"2026-07-26T22:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T21:50:57","slug":"cyberbullying-the-hidden-scar-of-the-digital-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/?p=2355","title":{"rendered":"Cyberbullying: The Hidden Scar Of The Digital Age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Divine Edward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSitting behind a computer gives people a sense of anonymity, but everyone needs to realize that words\u2014even the ones they write online\u2014have a strong power to hurt people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This quote by Demi Lovato, an American actress, singer, and songwriter, means that hiding behind a screen makes people feel invisible and unaccountable, leading them to say hurtful things that they would never say to someone’s face. This serves as a reminder that digital words are real and can cause the same damage as physical bullying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining Cyberbullying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to a published article by Adelphi University<\/strong> titled A Social Worker’s Guide to Cyberbullying Prevention and Awareness<\/em>, cyberbullying refers to an individual or group intentionally targeting, harassing, or threatening someone repeatedly through digital media and communication tools such as the internet, cell phones, and social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The article further explains that cyberbullying takes several forms, including flaming, outing, trolling, cyberstalking, online harassment, name-calling, spreading false rumours, and sending explicit images or messages without the recipient’s consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to a question on the most common forms of cyberbullying among students, Mr. Tobi Clement Andrew<\/strong>, a primary school teacher, said the most common forms include sending insulting or threatening messages, spreading rumours online, posting embarrassing photos or videos without permission, creating fake social media accounts to impersonate others, excluding people from online groups, and making hurtful comments on social media platforms. According to the teacher, these behaviours can seriously affect a student’s emotional well-being and self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further explained that most cases of cyberbullying are driven by individuals who desire to feel superior, seek attention, or fit in with their peers. He stated that others may act out of anger, jealousy, revenge, or frustration. Some do not fully understand the emotional damage their actions can cause, especially because communicating online can make them feel anonymous or less accountable for their behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explaining The Effects Of Cyberbullying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the study, cyberbullying can have serious emotional effects on young people, particularly adolescents, adding significantly to the stress they experience in their daily lives. Victims may experience embarrassment when hurtful messages, photos, or videos are shared publicly, as well as feelings of shame and guilt when their private information is exposed online. The study also notes that cyberbullying can lead to anxiety, causing victims to lose interest in their studies, sports, and other daily activities. In many cases, it may also result in social isolation, as affected young people withdraw from friends, school, and social gatherings out of fear or humiliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on the effects of cyberbullying, Miss Faith Oghenemarho Ebireir<\/strong>, the best graduating student of Mass Communication in the previous academic session, explained that cyberbullying can greatly reduce the confidence of young people. According to her, victims who are insulted, harassed, mocked, threatened, or embarrassed online may begin to doubt themselves and feel insecure about their appearance, abilities, or opinions. She noted that this often causes young people to withdraw from online activities, avoid posting on social media, or become overly cautious when interacting with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miss Faith further explained that cyberbullying can negatively affect students’ academic performance and communication. She stressed that emotional distress caused by online harassment can reduce concentration, motivation, and interest in schoolwork. She also added that victims may avoid interacting with classmates, teachers, and even family members due to fear or embarrassment, while some reduce their participation on social media or withdraw from online platforms entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the long-term effects, Miss Faith observed that unresolved cyberbullying could lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and difficulty trusting others. She added that ignoring cyberbullying may also create a culture where online harassment becomes normalised, making digital spaces less safe and reducing empathy among users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a study by McMillen Health<\/strong>, many young people experiencing cyberbullying often show noticeable changes in their behaviour. Warning signs may include changes in sleeping or eating habits, mood swings, reduced social interaction, stress-related symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches, difficulty concentrating in school, and a sudden loss of interest in hobbies or activities they once enjoyed. The study also notes that many victims do not feel comfortable telling a trusted adult about their experiences, making it important for parents and teachers to recognise these signs early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the study by Cultuur Verandering<\/strong> does not focus exclusively on cyberbullying, it examines why victims of bullying often remain silent. According to the study, many victims choose not to report bullying because they fear retaliation, worry they will not be believed, or are concerned about being blamed. The study also identifies peer pressure, power imbalances, weak reporting systems, and a lack of a safe and supportive environment as major reasons victims hesitate to speak up. These findings also help explain why many victims of cyberbullying choose to suffer in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Understood<\/strong>, responding quickly is essential when a young person is suspected to be a victim of cyberbullying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation advises parents, teachers, and other trusted adults to begin with a calm and open conversation, encouraging the child to speak about their experience without fear of blame or judgment. Understood also recommends monitoring the child’s online activities where appropriate, informing the school if the bullying involves classmates, and contacting the parents of those responsible when necessary. In severe cases involving persistent harassment or threats, it advises keeping evidence such as screenshots or messages and reporting the matter to the appropriate authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listing The Solutions And Preventive Measures Of Cyberbullying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on the prevention of cyberbullying, Pastor David Ikechukwu<\/strong>, Youth Group Pastor of Christ Embassy Alaba, Lagos Zone 3, emphasised the important role parents play in protecting young people online. According to him, parents should build trusting relationships with their children, as many victims of cyberbullying remain silent because they fear being blamed or having their phones taken away. He encouraged parents to have regular conversations about social media, stay informed about their children’s online activities, and create an environment where children feel safe enough to speak up whenever they encounter problems online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor David further explained that schools, churches, and communities also have a shared responsibility in preventing cyberbullying. He noted that young people should be consistently taught digital responsibility and kindness. According to him, many do not realise that actions such as posting hurtful comments, spreading rumours, sharing embarrassing videos, creating fake accounts, or deliberately excluding others from group chats are all forms of cyberbullying. He therefore called on schools, churches, and communities to promote respect, empathy, and accountability both online and offline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering practical advice to young people, Pastor David urged them to think before posting or commenting online, noting that words shared on the internet can leave lasting emotional scars. He advised victims of cyberbullying not to respond with insults or revenge but instead to block the offender, preserve evidence where necessary, and report the incident to a trusted parent, teacher, or youth leader. According to him, asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his concluding message, Pastor David reminded young people that there is a real person behind every screen. He encouraged them to ask themselves, “Would I say this to the person’s face?”<\/em> before posting or commenting online. As a youth pastor, he urged young people to use social media to spread kindness, support one another, and help make the online space safer for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information presented in this feature was gathered from a combination of credible published articles on cyberbullying and interviews conducted with individuals from different backgrounds and fields, including an educator, a Mass Communication graduate, and a youth pastor. Bringing together these different perspectives provides a more comprehensive understanding of the causes, effects, warning signs, prevention, and possible solutions to cyberbullying among young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cyberbullying is more than just an online problem\u2014it is a social issue with real emotional, academic, and psychological consequences for young people. As digital communication continues to shape everyday life, everyone has a role to play in creating a safer online environment. Parents, teachers, schools, religious organisations, communities, and young people themselves must work together to promote kindness, empathy, responsible digital behaviour, and the courage to speak up against online abuse. Only through this collective effort can cyberbullying be reduced and the internet become a safer space for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Divine Edward \u201cSitting behind a computer gives people a sense of anonymity, but everyone needs to realize that words\u2014even the ones they write online\u2014have a strong power to hurt people.\u201d This quote by Demi Lovato, an American actress, singer, and songwriter, means that hiding behind a screen makes people feel invisible and unaccountable, leading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"iawp_total_views":6,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15],"tags":[640,88,59],"class_list":["post-2355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trendingnews","category-viewspoint","tag-cyber-bullying","tag-feature-article","tag-social-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2355"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2357,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2355\/revisions\/2357"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}