Table of Contents
Introduction
When friends meet they sometimes joke around with each other, sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, exclusively online. Sometimes they say or laugh it off as “just kidding,” or they “don’t take it so seriously.”
But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you’ve asked the one to stop and you still feel upset about it, this could be bullying.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when somebody uses the internet to be cruel to another person so they feel bad or upset. it can contain posts, comments, texts, messages, chats, live streams, memes, images, videos, and emails.
The way we converse online can also make it more difficult to know where to draw the line between banter and bullying.
Following are the examples included in cyberbullying:
Cruel or abusive messages
Creating fake accounts in someone’s name to humiliate people
Spreading offensive rumors or lies about someone
Sharing photos of someone to make fun of or humiliate them
Making new accounts on social media to attempt repeated contact after the person has already blocked you
When the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from an extensive range of people including strangers. Anyplace it may happen, you should not have to stand for it if you are not comfortable with it.
Cyberbullying is never OK.
If you feel bad and it doesn’t stop, it’s worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it’s also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect whether online or in real life.
What are the effects of cyberbullying?
When bullying happens online we feel as if we’re being attacked everywhere, even inside our own homes. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects of these can last a long time and disturb a person in many ways:
• Mentally effect is feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry
• Emotionally is feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
• Physically – tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches
The feeling of being harassed by others can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In life-threatening cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives.
Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can recover their health and confidence.
Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online?
When you experience cyberbullying you might start to feel humiliated, nervous, anxious, and insecure about what people say or think about you but you don’t need to be ashamed you have to take the first step to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member or another trusted adult.
If bullying is happening at school – you can reach out to a counselor, the sports coach, or your favorite teacher either online or in person.
If the bullying is happening on a social media platform consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behavior on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe.
Why is reporting important?
Stop bullying, it needs to be reported
It needs to be identified and reported. It can also help to show the bully that their behavior is intolerable. If you are in instant danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services. It can be helpful to collect evidence from text messages and screenshots of social media posts to show what’s been going on.
Punishment for cyberbullying?
There is no specific legislation that provides for the specific cyberbullying laws in India however provisions such as Section 67 of the Information Technology Act deal with cyberbullying in a way. Section 67 of the act prescribes punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form for a term which may extend to five years and also with a fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees.
Other than Section 67 of the IT Act following are the provisions of the cyberbullying laws in India:
- Section 507 IPC – The section states that if anyone receives criminal intimidation by way of an anonymous communication then the person giving threats shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years. By virtue of the word anonymous the offense of anti-bullying and cyberbullying is included in this section.
- Section 66 E of IT Act – The section prescribes punishment for violation of privacy. The section states that any person who intentionally violates privacy by transmitting, capturing, or publishing private pictures of others shall be punished with up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to three lakhs.
How to Stop Bullying?
Following are the steps to take to stop bullying
Do not respond
Sometimes all the offenders are looking for is a reaction as according to them by responding to them you are giving them power over you and if you don’t respond or retaliate you are in fact curbing their power. The best way is to disconnect yourself from this situation or distract the person who is bullying you
Keep the evidence save
In the cases of cyberbullying, the only positive aspect for the victim is that they can capture and save the evidence of cyberbullying and can show the same for proving that they have fallen prey to the offense of cyberbullying
If somebody is harassing you on Facebook you can either report or block the person or can even contact the facebook authorities regarding the same. Many websites have a no-tolerance policy and if you complain against them they will take it down.
Reach out for help
When the bully is not stopping and is continuously bullying you reach out to the lawyers for help
Use technology
Most social media apps provide the option of either reporting a person or blocking a person who has been harassing you. This might not end the problem instantly but when the bully founds out that he has been blocked or reported he might end it.
Conclusion
Cyberbullying happens when someone threatens, harasses, or embarrasses the victim using technology or a digital device. Cyberbullying is done by teens and adolescents. There have been cyberbullying laws enacted in India to punish the offenders and protect the victims and they are known as Anti-bullying laws.
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