Cyberbullying likelihood of suicidal thoughts in early adolescence

Approximately one in four youth are affected by bullying during the school year, negatively impacting millions of children, parents, and individuals in school communities. Many people do not realize how much cyberbullying goes-on, on the World Wide Web.

“Our findings suggest being a target of cyberbullying is an independent risk factor for youth suicidality,” said Barzilay. “For policymakers wishing to optimize youth suicide prevention efforts, this study should further encourage interventions for those who are being bullied online.”

According to research from the University of Pennsylvania and Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI) of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP):

-Young adolescents who are targets of cyberbullying are more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts.

What is cyberbullying

• Cyberbullying is typically referred to as communication or posting by one or more minors using cyber technology or digital media designed to hurt, annoy, threaten, embarrass, blackmail, or otherwise target another minor.
• Cyberbully. Occurs when using electric technology, electric technology includes devices and applications like computers, cell phones, text messages, emails, social media in chat websites, some examples of cyberbullying comprise crucial texts or emails, rumors started by the click of an email or posted on social media sites, private or embarrassing pictures, videos, websites or fake profiles.
• Another form of cyberbullying is password theft, stealing someone’s password and pretending to be the victim, the person manipulates the victim’s profile online to include information that is offensive and hateful, guaranteeing the victim cannot use their profile anymore and pushing away social media, friends, pictures or another form of cyberbullying.
• This includes sending naked pictures via cell phone or email to other people where people can upload the picture and download and post these photos on the Internet.
• Another form of cyberbullying is sending, harassing, or text through via text messages and instant messaging. These comprise death threats, inappropriate photos, and bullying through text messages.
• Another form that is in the current day is fake, making fake profiles. This is where people make fake profiles for the sole purpose to insult and harass people, posting personal information or pictures about the person taunting them.

Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall : Cyberbullying: What It Is, The Effects It Can Have On Teens, And Signs To Watch For

• Watch Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall share information on Dr. Phil on cyberbullying, how it can impact teens, and how parents can help. Visit GetHealthyStayHealthy.com for more information.

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Cyberbullying symptoms

• These symptoms are more predominant with cyberbullying rather than traditional bullying. Victims begin to become closed off, and break away from friendships and relationships.
• Some victims of cyberbullying start slipping up in school academically and may even start bullying others to feel like they are in control.
• In some cases, the issue of bullying does not get resolved or dealt with, resulting in suicide.

why cyberbullying is dangerous | it’s cruelty

• One reason that it’s been crueler is that people say things online that they would never say face to face to a person.
• Another reason would be that bullying takes place in the victim’s home stripping them from their once safe haven.
• Another reason why cyberbullying is dangerous, it is anonymous and inescapable when online you do not have to share your real name.
• So often bullies conceal their identities.
• It’s hard to escape from due to the fact that once something is online, you cannot take the post down.

Cyberbullying & Mental health risks

• For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 10,000 U.S. children between the ages of 10 and 13 who were enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

• The kids answered questions about their experiences with cyberbullying and any history of suicidal thoughts or attempts. They also answered another survey about any traditional, offline bullying that they’d experienced or engaged in.
• The study showed that children who experienced cyberbullying were at a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. Nearly 9% of the group reported a history of cyberbullying, while 7.6% of the kids reported dealing with suicidality in some way.
• Kids who were bullied online weren’t necessarily being bullied in person.
• The researchers also found that children who were victims of cyberbullying were likely to struggle with mental health regardless of outside factors.

Source: consumeraffairs.com

JAMA Network Open source.

• Suicide rates among children have been steadily rising. According to the CDC, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 in 2018.
• The factors contributing to suicidality in children and adolescents are not fully understood, but research has shown that environmental stressors play a role.
• In modern times, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial proportion of peer interaction, including bullying, occurs online, through text messages or social media platforms.
• Source: Information source Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Note: Content customization may happen to suit the blog post.

Cyberbullying Prevention

Tips for parents and teachers to help to prevent cyberbullying:

• Inform your child about bullying and cyberbullying. Sit your child down and take them or talk to them about respecting others and loving everyone.
• Make sure that they know under no circumstance is any form of bullying, OK?
• Try to set a good example when using technology.
• Children are like sponges; they soak up all the information that they see and look up to us parents.
• When you’re on social media, when you’re on the Internet and on your social media, avoid picking on others or joking.
• Share with your child the price you pay when misusing technology. When you misuse technology in a certain way, you can run into the law and that can ruin your life.
• Teachers teach their children to make sure that they are not cyberbullied.
• Try to be involved with your child’s technology, step into their world and learn how they are using their devices in what they’re doing on their social media.
• Make sure your child is comfortable with talking to you about cyberbullying, make sure that you are aware that they are aware that you will listen to them and help provide a solution so that cyberbullying will not occur again with them.
• Raise awareness, hosting an event, creating a club, and building a campaign, all bring awareness to cyberbullying. Even when you understand it, it does not mean others do. We must bring attention to this issue so we can save lives one life at a time.
• Cyberbullying is something that we need to put an end to, and it all starts at home, parents, so you sit your children down and explain to them that they should be nice to everyone as well as set a good example for them. When you’re on the Internet

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Emotional Intelligence vs cyberbullying victimization

• Davis and Humphrey, 2012b:  As an important and positive factor associated with psychological adjustment, it is hypothesized that EI might serve as a buffer between cyberbullying victimization and psychological maladjustment in adolescents.
• As per the hypothesis, adolescents with higher levels of EI would report lower levels of suicide risk and greater self-esteem.
• Emotionally intelligent individuals are better at regulating their negative emotions; therefore, emotional intelligence training can be an effective tool for minimizing the negative emotions of cyberbullying.

ReThink Before the Damage is Done | Trisha Prabhu | TEDxYouth@Hewitt

• When an adolescent receives a chance to rethink posting a potentially offensive message on social media, they decide not to post over 93% of the time.
• This staggering discovery, backed by scientific studies on adolescent brain development, led Trisha Prabhu to create ReThink at the age of 14.
• An app that aims to end the epidemic of cyberbullying, ReThink is a movement to change the way adolescents engage online.
• Prabhu is a 16-year-old social entrepreneur, advocate, and inventor of ReThink – an effective way to stop cyberbullying.
• Her research has found that with “ReThink,” adolescents change their minds 93% of the time and decide not to post an offensive message.
• ReThink has been adopted by thousands of schools around the world.
• Prabhu has received many awards for her work including 2016 WebMD Health Hero of the year-Prodigy, 2014 Google Science Fair – Global Finalist, and Prudential Spirit of the Community award for extraordinary volunteering and community service.
• She is currently attending Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

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The Impact of Online Bullying | Anoushka Cowan | TEDxKingAlfredSchool

• Anoushka is 13 years old and loves acting, playing sports, and all musical theatre. She is also a keen social activist for anti-bullying and anti-racism.
• Her own mother’s experience of standing up to online racism and subsequent trolling motivated her to talk about the ripple impact of online bullying by adults to other adults on younger members of the family.
• This talk is funny, truthful, moving, and brave.
• Student in Year 9 at The King Alfred School This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Cyberbullying | Vincent Parsons | TEDxPasco County Schools

• This student discusses the impact of cyberbullying on youth. Student
• This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Rising Above: A Film Against Cyberbullying (2019)

• In order to address a national epidemic surrounding cyberbullying and the victims created by individuals who attack from the comfort behind their phones, the City of Monroe Police Department has partnered with the Alcovy Circuit D.A., Assistant D.A., Walton County Superior Court, Monroe Area High School and media specialist, Dimitri Kakavelakis, in order to create a short film.
• It addresses the all too familiar topics surrounding fear, hate, threats, harassment, cyberbullying, and bullying.
• Moreover, the scope of the film is to educate students, parents, and community members about the proper steps to confront these aforementioned issues
• In addition to the laws and repercussions surrounding related criminal behavior (i.e. sexting, underage pornography, terroristic threats, and delinquent behavior), all the while intervening before disaster strikes (i.e. suicide and active shooter situations).
• The film includes interviews with two school counselors who were present at the Heritage High School shooting back in 1999, one month after Columbine.

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Remembering a Victim of Cyberbullying

• In this preview of a story to air on “Sunday Morning,” the family of Tyler Clementi recalls learning that the Rutgers freshman had committed suicide.
• Tyler had discovered that his roommate had illicitly streamed on the Internet his private encounter with another man.

• Source CBS Sunday Morning

Cyber Bullies Drove My Daughter to Commit Suicide | This Morning

• Just two weeks after her daughter took her own life, Megan Evans’ mother Nicola shares how her daughter’s secret battle with cyber bullies drove her to commit suicide. Broadcast on 23/02/2017

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Adults can be victims of Cyberbullying too

• ABC2 News reporter Brian Kuebler speaks with University of Maryland professor Danielle Citron, author of “Hate Crimes in Cyberspace.”

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The victim is now an advocate of cyberbullying prevention

• Chong Ee Jay shares his experience with cyberbullying.

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