Youth Alert

Cyberbullying causes significant emotional, psychological, and physical distress.

Often, victims experience mental health issues, and struggle academically, they experience

physical symptoms too. Even people are inside their homes, their safe haven, cyberbullying

never stops. Ways of bullying tend to overlap, in this case, people who are cyberbullied

could also be bullied face to face. It may happen digitally or technologically, cyberbullying is

the scariest. Words are sharp knives, they scar you deep and permanent. Cyberbullying can

be even more debilitating then direct bullying, with victims feeling like there is no escape. I

believe it should be stopped. In full efforts, we need to stop it.

Cyberbullying never did any good to anyone. Bullying, any method, has become one

of the main causes of deaths in adolescents. Moreover, it has become a major problem in

schools and in all places. After hearing the word “bullying,” never did it happen that I won’t

think of suicides and brokenness. How can people still be happy when they’re ruining

someone’s life? Is it worth it? Feeling the happiness in exchange of one’s destruction. Under

House Bill 5718, or the proposed “Anti Cyber-Bullying Act of 2015,” cyber bullies shall face a

penalty of fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000, or imprisonment between six months

and six years, or both, at the discretion of the court. In 2019, the number of cyberbullying

incidents in the Philippines was highest for those in region 4-a, amounting to approximately

92.4 thousand victims. Cyberbullying or cyber libel also occurred more in the CARAGA

region and the National Capital Region. According to data from the UN Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization, the proportion of children and adolescents affected by

cyberbullying ranges from five percent to 21 percent, with girls at higher risk than boys.

Online violence, cyber bullying and digital harassment affect over 70 percent of young

people globally, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as it called on

internet users to “be kind online” and prevent this form of violence.
 “Cyberbullying can cause profound harm as it can quickly reach a wide audience,

and can remain accessible online indefinitely, virtually ‘following’ its victims online for life,”

the UNICEF said. Awareness is important in taking actions against cyberbullying,

understanding it helps in formulating ways how to reduce, prevent, and stop it. It’s also

important that we prioritize educating children and youth people regarding safe online

behavior, and give emphasis to the importance of addressing bullying in schools,

workplaces, the community, and ensure that victims are provided with appropriate support

and services. Anytime is the perfect time to put an end to bullying, don’t hesitate to take the

initiative.