Cyberbullying
Social media has created a new hurdle for those looking to protect the children from bullies. Many kids are facing harsh backlash. The kids are choosing to participate in social media usage, although parents are not always aware. This has played a large role in the significant rise in self-harm, or depressive episodes. Locally in Huntingdon County, as small as this county is we have seen multiple children take their lives due to the issues social media has caused them.
Social Media creates a form of communication that we are never away from. It is always easily accessible in our hands. Bullying has changed over the years, from fighting and going home and being able to get away from it, you are now never away from it. The issue we have to question is how can parents help their children?
Parents should be monitoring their child’s usage online and should help them, schools should also promote counseling and therapy that is confidential . Many kids do not reach out for help, due to being embarrassed and potentially promoting more bullying by reaching out.
I believe that social media platforms need to start to promote more self identifying forums so children under the age of 13 are not allowed to get a social media account. Although, we already have most of these terms they are not followed and hard to control.
