Translating the article "Cyberbullying and mental health of adolescents" by Faye Grech

and Mary Anne Lauri

Source | Ivan Pantic, Getty Images

Cyberbullying may have a highly negative impact on the majority of teenagers, leading to a
variety of both psychological and physical issues. Young individuals subjected to harassment
online face a range of negative effects on their mental health, from minor to severe.
The access to and interchange of information has become more simpler and more efficient as a
result of improvements in technology. The advent of digital media has brought about significant
changes in both the way we live and the way we communicate. Using various forms of
technology comes with its fair share of drawbacks, just like any other activity. Faye Grech and
Mary Anne Lauri, in their article Cyberbullying and mental health of adolescents, have discussed
one of the major drawbacks that have been witnessed with cyberbullying is mental health
problems among teenagers. Their article needed to study how cyberbullying has affected most
adolescents in their early stages of life. They hypothesized that cyberbullying has adverse effects
on adolescents, which range from mild to severe mental health problems. Their study used a
sample of 367 adolescents aged between 13 and 16 years. Data was gathered through
questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed to give meaning and help answer the research
question. The study results showed that most victims affected by cybercrime suffer from fear,
humiliation, anger, and sadness. The victims also feel unsafe, excluded, and helpless. Most
people who have been a victim of cybercrime result in self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
The media, academic institutions, and educational institutions have been paying more and more
attention to the phenomena known variously as cyber harassment, cyberbullying, cyber
aggression, and electronic bullying. Teenagers' minds and hearts may be seriously damaged by
cyberbullying, making them anxious and unhappy. What follows is teenagers avoiding school
and failure, depression, and poor self-esteem.
Cyberbullying victims tend to share certain traits. They are much more inclined to be
inexperienced internet users looking for attention and approval online and haven't necessarily
been taught about online safety. Seldom did they get nurturing guidance from adults in their
lives. Therefore they lacked the tools necessary to cope effectively with adversity. One last
problem is that kids are less inclined to tell an adult about an uncomfortable online scenario.
Around half of the teenagers report being cyberbullied, and even more, say they have seen
cyberbullying regularly, yet few disclose it.
Cyberbullying can result in long-term effects such as intoxication, conduct issues, smoking,
hyperactivity, conduct issues, low prosocial behavior, and psychosomatic symptoms such as
fatigue and insomnia. Adolescents who have been victims of cyberbullying may not recover or
take longer to recover. For this reason, adolescents are more likely to engage in criminal
activities later in their life. According to the study, adolescents who have been victims of cyber
victims are more likely to engage in killing themselves.
Cyberbullying may be stopped by taking steps including printing out the whole of emails,
capturing screenshots, and filing a complaint. The National Association of School Psychologists
(NASP) recommends that parents and victims follow eight steps. Initially, the harasser should be
urged to cease, and any hostile texts should be deleted. To prevent this action from turning into
retribution, it should be taken with caution but forcefully. This vital action breaks the vicious
cycle of assault and revenge. The victim must be instructed to disregard or block any contact to
stop the bullying from happening again. Making a physical copy of the offensive information
and displaying it to the cyberbully's caretakers should be the third action taken to stop their
activity. In this approach, parents may assist teenagers in coping with this challenging
circumstance by working together as partners. Afterward, adolescents must purge phone
numbers and restrict access to the perpetrator's accounts. If the problem persists or worsens, it
must be notified to the webpage, ISP, or corporation. Parents and teenagers should also seek
assistance from the institution's psychiatrist, counselor, and staff members. Lastly, if less drastic
measures fail, one needs to contact the Cyber Crimes Department.
There have been programs that aid adolescents in keeping themselves safe while using the
internet and avoiding the risk of falling victim to cyberbullying. Such programs include
BeSmartOnline and Brave. Such programs provide information on how to avoid safety measures
while using the internet, especially social media, and what to do if one finds themselves falling
victim to cyberbullying. For instance, the BeSmartOnline app is working to educate, empower
students, raise awareness, and educate parents and educators on how to use the internet safely.
The app also promotes www.childwebalert.gov.mt, which is a safe haven where children can
report abusive and illegal activities done to them.
The cases of cyberbullying have been proven to be increasing each day. According to an online
reporting platform on issues related to cyberbullying, the cases have been increasing at a very
fast rate. According to the report, in 2017 only, the site only received 104 cyberbullying reports.
Maltese researchers Lauri and Farrugia found that among pupils aged 9 to 16, 36.6% had
experienced internet harassment, and 12.7% had seen online hatred. Almost a quarter of people
in this research said they would rather not discuss it with others. Many kids (42%), who have
sought assistance for this issue, turn to a parent for guidance. The next-most common strategy is
to ask someone else for advice (39%). Nine percent never discuss it with a school official.
According to data collected by the Cybersecurity Unit, a specialist division of the Maltese Police
Force, the number of cases requiring their attention has been steadily rising.
The study by Maltese researchers resonates with the findings of the study conducted by Faye
Grech and Mary Anne Lauri. One-quarter of those polled (24.5%) said they had been the target
of cyberbullying in the past. In the study, 67 (or 74.4 percent) of the 90 people who were
cyberbullied also experienced physical bullying. Those who were bullied online were more
likely to suffer physical harm in person. Participants shared their reactions to cyberbullying. A
person's judgment may be impaired by anger, leading to hasty, even violent, responses and
retaliation. If the victim retaliates, they will end up being the one doing the bullying. Sadness and
embarrassment can be experienced by teenagers. Another source of cyberbullying is the
realization that bullying is being seen by many others, especially if screenshots of conversations
are being shared across social networks. Stress and anxiety can compromise health. When
comparing those who were bullied with those who were not, the results show that individuals
who suffered abuse had significantly lower levels of life satisfaction and overall well-being.