Cyberbullying is when someone uses electronic communication to bully a person by sending messages or images of something threatening.
Cyberbullying includes a lot of things such as when people send or post negative or harmful things like, false rumours online or in a group chat. It can also include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation, and some can cross the line into lawbreaking or criminal behaviour.
“I felt sad and let down as well as embarrassed and betrayed,” said an 11-year-old OGPS student, who has experienced cyberbullying.
Lots of people from Gen A are experiencing cyberbullying, and 94 per cent of OGPS students know what cyberbullying is. But why is it more common in Generation Alpha than in other generations?
Cyberbullying happens when you are unsupervised by a parent online and in Generation Alpha that’s the problem. Before Gen Y, there wasn’t much social media so bullying was face-to-face. But that changed when devices, screens and social media became part of everyday life.
It was easier for bullies to target their victims because they could bully them anonymously. This quickly became widespread across Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and other social media.
If you experience cyberbullying, take a screenshot as proof, and tell someone trusted such as a teacher, parent or someone you have a good relationship with. If you need more support, contact the E-Safety Commissioner.
Remember, you should never believe any bad comments online about you or anyone else and if you see it happening to anyone else you should be an upstander and tell them to stop. If you’re not comfortable doing that, tell a parent or teacher.
