Faust 1

Troy Faust
Mrs. Stegner
ERWC, Period 0
16 February 2016
Cyber Bullying: An Epidemic of Mental Instability
Since the introduction of the internet in 1990 in its most recognizable form, one
could only imagine how many different programs would emerge during the next two
decades. From the thousands of ways people communicate using the social networks like
Facebook, Instagram, etc., it is now easier to keep in touch with those ones deemed the
most important in the average life. However, as unfortunate as it may seem, it also
provides for a window of opportunity that results in antagonizing behavior, blackmailing,
and a seemingly new form of bullying, also known as cyberbullying. Vastly different
from that of traditional bullying, cyberbullying is a form of bullying enacted primarily by
means of social media or other forms of electronic and internet connection. In todays
society, cyberbullying portrays the distrust and disrespect bestowed in the minds of teens
all across America and its demoralizing effects leave teens in states of depression,
suicidal temptation, and lack of identity.
The effects of cyberbullying affect not only the teen involved in the situation, but
also their family members who, arguably, are the only ones who can really prevent their
teen son, daughter, brother, or sister from any such harm should it reach the point of
devastation. Michael Cleland began speaking to various schools around the country
shortly after his daughters intentional passing as a result of her victimization to
cyberbullying. He explained how devastating it felt to have lost his daughter in such a

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way and claims that no child or family member should ever have to endure such a tragedy
(Ford). Like most cases of cyberbullying, it is inevitable that the actions of the bully can
mentally devastate the targeted victim causing them to re-evaluate their self worth and
value within society. Often it can escalate the emotions of the victim and cause them to
act irrationally. A majority of cyberbullying incidents, unfortunately, and their
demoralizing effects therein often go unnoticed and are overlooked as a natural part of
childhood (Bullying). Shortly after the victim is exposed to any form of cyberbullying,
it is deemed improbable to avoid connection with that feeling as most social media gossip
and drama is just as easily spread about a school campus as it is on the internet via social
networking, at least in our current status of technological prosperity. In addition to the
evolution of technology in the last decade, it provided cyberbullying the opportunity to
enable anonymous contact with other people making it more difficult to trace the
unsettling and distressing comments or remarks made by other children. This often can
negatively affect the child or children they initially targeted (Donegan 34). If these cases
of cyberbullying are going unnoticed due to their anonymity or not discussed about with
a figure of authority who may have a solution to the problem, it will only give
cyberbullying the edge it needs to evidently become the owner of the lives of teens as
temptation of suicide, as a way out of this storm. The risk of suicide can increase
significantly with each instant message or leaked photo that originally was never intended
to hurt anyone.
The effects on the victims correlate directly to the effects on the bully's actions
and mental health as well. In simple terms, these bullies that partake in said incidences of
cyberbullying must have been predisposed to something similar causing them to act in an

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illogical and nauseating form. According to The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health,
people who are bullies as children often become bullies as adults (Bullying).
Unfortunately, these young bullies that soon grow into adults take their childish
behavior with them, regardless of their location, be it in the the workplace, blackmailing
co-workers or secretaries, or at home, where domestic violence may arise. The Bully
Research Center at Clemson University claims that children have engaged in and taken
up a large roll in cyberbullying upon the arrival of the Internet over the last two decades.
In addition to the cyberbullying, there has been an increase in anonymity that has
provided bullies with a better sense of protection for themselves while constantly
antagonizing others (Kowalski). Many people have come up with fake identities by using
other peoples information and then they turn to harassing other people on the internet.
The direction of bullying in the workplace is deemed a form of harassment. This form of
bullying may very well have arisen from the actions of bullies as children to those in
places of managerial positions in the workplace. Whether it be physically, or through
electronic communication at work, cyberbullying is inevitable. This means cyberbullying
is extremely popular among teens and their use of social media. However, it will most
definitely affect those in a business environment as the term blackmailing arises and
raises new forms of concern to the credibility and safety of a given place in the workforce
(Bullying). Cyberbullying is a more dangerous form of bullying because people feel
protected behind a screen.
The popularity of most social networks, like Facebook and Instagram, used
notoriously by teens all across America, now allow for easier access for most situations to
often be overlooked for the cyberbully. The cyberbully involved might be seeking

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attention or looking to gain a sense of accomplishment or power over another person.
This emotional thrill ride can enhance the need to continue their actions as a cyberbully.
Currently, social media is reaching even younger members of our society, spreading this
epidemic and its dangerous effects starting as early as elementary school. In summary,
Michael Clelands daughter, Jessica, became the victim of a devastating, life-ending
cyberbullying experience merely because she became the victim, and chose to keep the
situation to herself. In accordance to Facebooks already recognized symbol as
connection with other people, it is hard to believe its use is now demeanored to the
extent that no one, other than Jessica, experienced her struggle, only resulting in her
suicide (Ford). Many people do not actually recognize the effects of cyberbullying since
it is still considered a new trend. Teens, especially, are affected by what people think
about them; when it is put on social media for everyone to see, the negative effects are
magnified. Although they are well out of date, chat rooms and online forums provided a
communal breeding ground for youth to assault one another. These chat rooms and
forums were so new at the time of their arrival with the emergence of the internet, they
were not accessible to most, only providing for a bigger situation to arise with seemingly
no supervision or guidance as to how to properly use the internet. It is just another way
for children to access parts of the internet that were either not developed well enough at
such an early stage, or the lack of knowledge the user obtained at the time of their use of
a new tool of communication (Donegan 34). Kids with access to internet activities are
more likely to keep quiet about their encounters that negatively affect their mental state-they especially do not inform their parents or other adult figures of the things that bother
them on the internet. Why? They simply want access to the world and the ability to never

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truly reveal who they are unless they choose to reveal themselves. In a face to face
confrontation, the bully is in front of you and the feeling of fight or flight kicks in, but
with cyberbullying, often the cyber bully's victim believes that they can steer clear of any
harm because they are behind a computer. Parents, of course, do not want to punish their
children by taking away their internet access, but they also want a way to protect their
children. Unfortunately, it eventually finds a clear path to these teens one way or
another (Pappas 4). Many parents and school advisors are unsure how to handle this new
forum of cyberbullying. How do you punish someone for their actions online?
Statistically, cyberbullying is linked to symptoms similar to that of depression.
Teens affected by cyberbullying usually do not speak out on the situation due to fear or
embarrassment but this can only make the situation worse. Between the ages of 12 and
18, one factor that stood out among all others that provided for more accurate studies in
the future--showed that cyberbullying inevitably increased the likelihood of depression or
any state thereof (Pappas 3). According to a survey vested among 5,000 social media
users, 1,000 of those users claim that cyberbullying is much worse than face-to-face
contact merely because of its anonymity and the high amount of times it is overlooked
as the natural maturation of children into adults. (Donegan 35). Cyberbullying is
becoming such a serious issue that it is being recognized by the media. There are many
television shows that follow those who have been cyberbullied and even movies that
show the true stories of people who have lost their life to the negative effects of
cyberbullying. Of the 89 to 97.5 percent of teens who obtained access to a form of social
media stated that they had a Facebook account. In addition, about 15 percent of those
teens admitted to cyberbullying another individual at one point or another (Pappas 3).

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Teens have become so numb to this idea of cyberbullying because nobody is actually
taking a stand against it. While there have been many campaigns to prevent it, nobody is
actually trying to punish those who are victimizing others online.
Today, the Internet is a place where we unfold our entire lives. People are
constantly uploading, posting, commenting, retweeting everything. This only makes it
easier for people to take your information and hold it against you, and cyberbully you. If
you are a user on a form of social media, you have probably seen a form of
cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has proven many negative effects including depression and
suicide. What someone may see as a joke, may be taken seriously enough that it can be
detrimental to an innocent, friend-seeking, insecure person.