Cyber bullying has replaced traditional bullying that many of us faced in high school or back in the day. Unfortunately, the effects of cyber bullying are not any different from those of traditional bullying if not, the effects of cyber bullying are actually worse. In this day and age of digital migration and superiority, cyber bullies are so many; in WhatsApp groups, on twitter, Facebook and even on Telegram.
Cyber bullying occurs when a person uses the Internet, emails, text messages, instant messaging, social media websites, online forums, chat rooms, or other digital technology to harass, threaten, humiliate, or terrorise another person.
I bet you can clearly remember the case of Alistair, a second year student at Makerere University Business School [MUBS] who was thrown behind bars for cyber bullying. It’s unfortunate that there are many Alistairs [cyber bullies] out there who are waiting to prey on your innocence. In case of cyber bullying, do these 5 things;
Don’t shrink
When you shrink and act vulnerable, you give the cyber bully the power to terrorise you from head to toe. Don’t give that son of a b*tch that power over you because you alone are responsible for whatever you let in or out. Act cool, and play along but according to plan, you can get that guy in jail for a while- ask Alistair!
Save the evidence
In the long run, you might have to turn over this cyber bully to the authorities but guess what you need that evidence that he has actually been cyber bullying you, like abusive texts, pictures, screen shots and anything you can lay your hands on.
Stop direct communication with the bully
You can stop communication with the bully in many ways; by blocking them, deleting them from social media contacts, reporting their activities from any social media or other web sites they use to target you. Cyber bullying could get a little aggressive and get you psychologically tortured thus the need to act fast.
Report them to the authorities
Cyber bullying is like a weed, if not plucked, it could suffocate the whole field hence the need to report cyber bullies to the authorities so they can be dealt with accordingly saving another person from being their victim.
Don’t blame yourself
This isn’t denial but you don’t have to blame yourself for the actions of the bully or the consequences of their actions. They are not your responsibility more the reason not to beat yourself up, pick yourself up and move on, live your life, ditch the bully.
Cyber bullying is real and anyone can be a victim and anyone can be a bully. Cyber bullying is on a high-rise in Uganda today although many people don’t know how to go about it hence decide to shrug it off by keeping quiet and forever living a traumatised life.
