Cyber-bullying and Cyber-harassment, how can we prevent technology from turning into a dangerous tool used to control or end someone’s life from behind screens?
Cyberbullying and cyber harassment are manifestations that we have heard about and seen happen without having a clear reaction other than anger and condemnation. The occurrence of such a thing cannot be a reason to hide and be afraid. Every individual who is exposed to cyberbullying and cyber harassment should disclose these crimes and not be afraid of them. With the progress of life and the development that we are witnessing in the world of cybercrime, the penalties for these crimes are found within the law and are applied to the perpetrators. Therefore, failure to seek help can lead the victims of these crimes to anxiety, depression, and in other cases, suicide.
Although cyberbullying and cyber harassment usually appear as new phenomena related to devices and social media. However, they are considered an extension of the bullying and harassment that occurs on the roads, parking lots, markets, and others.
UNICEF defines cyberbullying as “Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It is repeated behavior, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted.” [1]
Sexual harassment was first mentioned in 1973 by researcher Mary Roy in a report for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since that time, definitions have varied. The definition of Cyber Harassment has become “the use of the Internet or modern means of communication to communicate with a female against her will by using words, insinuations, or images of a sexual nature that may lead to her being exposed to psychological or physical harm” [2, P.6]
Research indicates that up to 7 in 10 young people have experienced online abuse at some point, one in three victims of bullying have self-harmed as a result, and 1 in 10 has attempted suicide. [3]
Online violence, cyberbullying, and digital harassment affect over 70 percent of young people globally, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said, calling for concerted action to tackle and prevent this form of violence.[4]
The effects of cyberbullying and cyber harassment cannot be limited to anxiety and fear only. There are many stories around the world of people committing suicide due to cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying can cause much harm to the mental and physical health of victims. Overthinking and worrying can lead to depression and sleep deprivation. This causes physical exhaustion and an inability to perform daily tasks with the same vigor. Bullying can also reduce the victim’s trust in others and keep him away from social contact with his surroundings. In addition, it can cause loss of appetite and neglect of food, which makes the health of the body very poor.
Cyber harassment differs from physical harassment in that there is no obvious physical contact between the offender and the victim. Yet, this does not mean underestimating its harmful effects, which can cause a lot of psychological harm to women. “Cyber harassment” causes great psychological and social harm to the victim, no less than being physically harassed, while the harasser remains – in most cases – unpunished as a result of the coverage provided by his hiding – most of the time – under fake names on the Internet. [5]
The harmful effects of cyberbullying and cyber harassment cannot be proven until we hear the truth from the victims. There have been many stories on the Internet of victims of these crimes. In order for all to have a place to express their fears, here are some of the common stories:
We all know similar stories of people and celebrities who have been bullied by the public and end up lonely, depressed, and sometimes committing suicide.
At Uplifting Syrian Women, we have a place where everyone can express their feelings and problems. We cannot hold the criminal accountable. Yet, we can support and encourage victims to report the crime to those responsible and not be afraid. Here in this place, we have created a safe environment for everyone.
Also read: Violence Against Women.
♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.
References:
[1] UNICEF
[2] Academia
[3] UN Chronicle
[4] UN News
[5] STJ- SY
[6] Syria TV
[7] Globalcitizen