Why is cyberbullying so damaging?

I don't know why, but I've never been affected by cyberbullying, I just take it as some guy on the internet who doesn't know me or have the courage to say it to my face, and I never get phased by it, and I'm always confused why someone would go into a depression because of it.

What do you guys think?

It's more like spreading bad rumors about people. It's not really just saying insults to someone directly.

There's this one incident where a girl photoshopped the face of another girl onto a porn star or something.

Thats what cyber bullying is more like.

I feel like cyber bullying only works on two kinds of people.

1. People who are gullible and don't know sh!t.

2. People who brought the problem on to themselves. Example: People who get exposed for doing dumb sh!t.

@sophia89: I'm talking people who believe whatever's on the Internet (true or false) and react in with ignorance.

That's the thing I'm not bothered by that and why should I be?

That's just showing weakness.

If I'm getting mad or upset over something someone said over the Internet but couldn't say it infront of me.. what does that say about me and the person typing that bs?

It's just attention seeking, and acting brave behind a shield.

I could care less about what people say on the internet, however, some people get so worked up over it, that they can commit suicide. Just depends on how well people adapt to the internet society that is full of trolls.

@sophia89: It is if they're bullying because they think what they read is real. Other than that I completely agree.

I don't think it's that damaging. I think some young people are so disconnected from doing and accomplishing anything of real value that they put all their worth in social standing. When that goes poorly, they have nothing left. I think young people need more responsibility and freedom and by that I do not mean more homework and less accountability. I mean they should be able to start careers or pursue dreams outside of grades, sports and friendship drama.

The one way in which I do feel cyber bullying is a problem is in the anonymity and digital distribution of pictures. If you find a compromising picture or video of someone, you can distribute it to everyone they know without any repercussions coming back on you.

People that do cyber bullying are just a bunch of lames who have no lifes and that the only way they feel good is by trying to put people at their level -.- usually when someone spreads rumors about someone else i get mad and go up to them when i see them lol its funny how they tell me they dont want problems xD

Cyber bullying can be easily ignored. That is what they make a block button for plain and simple.

Cyber bullying also includes people putting up humiliating photos and videos of you. I don't see why that wouldn't faze you. I think that would get to most people.

Its not just some troll on the internet messing with your online persona. Its someone that knows how to affect your actual personal life and ruin you in the real world. That is why cyberbullying is so dangerous because its not something that can be easily fixed by switching schools or moving away. Look up Amanda Todd. Internet is still very new and is a wild west right now. It'll take future generations to figure out how to maintain it better.

I agree, the biggest problem with it is that its relentless, 24/7 harassment, name calling, photoshop doctoring, rumour spreading.

Its all well and good saying that they're weak for listening to people telling false rumours. But what about everyone else in your school/ workplace/ social hangout? They may not know its false and then believe the rumour and spread it further. Then there's no escaping it.

It used to be that if a schoolyard bully picked on you, at least you could go home for some peace. Now when kids get home they're being picked on virtually, and what young person can resist checking their phone/ Facebook/ whatever young people use. There's no downtime from it, so they're even more susceptible to it.

Uh....when people talk about cyber bullying, anonymous sites like CV aren't on their minds. If anybody feels bullied on this site, just turn off the computer and go outside. Hell, flame the person for all anyone really cares. The problems stem from sites like twitter, facebook, instagram, and even askme where you can be bullied in front of all your peers in the worst possible ways. And since everyone you know has seen you get roasted online, it's not as simple as turning off your computer.

Cyber-bullying is only worse when it's more than one person ganging up against you especially if its strangers. At least if it's people you know you could always report them but on the Vine in particular there's a case of choosing who to side with in the battle forums without any use of flaming.

@chillxpill: What he said

It isn't.

Because people using the internet are easy to pass judgement w/o analyzing the facts.

All of this.

Exactly.

Plus, keep in mind everything stays on the internet, forever, no matter what Facebook, Instagram and the like claim. One photo is all it takes to ruin your life. People who discount cyber bullying as nothing don't quite understand the implications. Add in doxxing, and what was once an online-only hobby just got very, very real.

Okay look at it this way, forget cyber bullying and think of any type of bullying in any sort of context that could affect you, even if only potentially or even if you have to think about yourself at your most sensitive or weak (as a child)? For example I had a family relative who I loved dearly but had a drug addiction and some mental health issues so on occasion could be very abusive verbally, and say some extremely horrible things so not some anonymous person online who doesn't lack courage but someone that has known you your entire life and is not only trying to hurt you, but ruin your relationships with other people, family, friends, romantic etc so basically a different situation that may affect some more than others and or some more than other situations. An individual could use that scenario as a basis to understand why… online cyber bullying could potentially be harmful, distressing, annoying, painful, a burden and so on. Doesn't have to be that scenario either, doesn't even necessarily have to be first hand experience, we have the tool of empathy.

Or think about physical pain? Its really just as much in the mind as other types of pain and so again people have different pain tolerances, even if one doesn't share the same pain tolerance as another they should be able to use their own experiences as a basis to understand what it can be like for others. There are also conditioning reasons as well, things to do with aspects of persons self, security, understanding, confidence, ego, needs and desires, approach towards conflict and pressure and anxiety.

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@overlordarthas: Did you get banned, Arhas?

Happened to me once, i flared up, though it was more of a joke, i warned the guy to stop.

Thing is if you have experienced it in such a harsh way you will understand, because it tends to also affect you in reality, like how your friends look at you, what they think about you. How would you feel if your face was photo-shopped and fixed to a guy "doing" a tranny, or a nude shameless dude, and it was posted on facebook or twitter, surely it would affect you, or a story was cooked up and some proofs were with it that you usually do some disgusting things, it will affect you, though literal insult is not meant to affect a guy, you are right about that part.

Nicely put.

and in what @ms-lola said

Plus, keep in mind everything stays on the internet, forever, no matter what Facebook, Instagram and the like claim. One photo is all it takes to ruin your life. People who discount cyber bullying as nothing don't quite understand the implications. Add in doxxing, and what was once an online-only hobby just got very, very real

and you get a bit of an idea how far reaching it can be.

I was reading an article this morning about an Aussie games journalist/ blogger (whatever the young kids call themselves nowdays) and how she gets random rape threats on facebook & twitter. She's taken to tweeting their mothers to let them know what little johnny is up to on his laptop.

But one of the main points she made was the threats were par for the course.

As disgusting as that is, imagine if you were getting that sort of treatment and you were still in school?

Just because its online bullying doesn't mean its effects stay online.

@cave_duck: It's an unfortunate reality. No one should ever have to put up with that type of harassment, but like you mentioned, this has become the norm for many bloggers. Good on her for finding an avenue to fight back, although I wish she didn't have to in the first place.

I requested that my main be banned lol

Id assume mostly because sexual harassment and the such

Bullying regardless of shape or the form is damaging because it affects self esteem. Extend of perceived damage from the said bullying is a question of fact rather than generalization and ought to dealt with on a case by case basis, but like any other form of bullying it can be hurtful and in some cases adversary affect people subconsciously.

^^^^ What this smart guy said.

People often cyberbully by blackmailing and exposing humiliating and/or private information. If someone's repeatedly calling you stupid over the Internet, then sure, block them and brush it off. If humiliating and/or private information is being exposed, however, you can't really brush it off.

Cause people have feelings. Psychopaths are impervious to bullying.

Bump.

Because people's feelings can get hurt.

Many reasons

Because

Lmao ^ This chick cyberbullied me back in the day

Cant escape it bottom line.

People don't understand what true cyberbullying is tbh.

Cyberbullying is not calling someone names on social media or otherwise being mean online. That shouldn't affect any mentally healthy person.

Cyberbullying is more like spreading rumors about someone online that transfers into their daily life, or distributing a porn tape of a person, or slandering them in a way that disrupts their real lives. Blackmail and private information too, and doxxing and such.

It isn't as common as people suggest and usually misidentified.