By: Dhruthi Hegde

Edited by: Adithi.S.Avadhani

Trigger warning: Mentions of sensitive topics like depression, anxiety, addiction, and suicide

The world today is so convoluted, and Daedalion concepts like the internet play a huge part in making it so. The internet is sometimes referred to as a

‘network of networks and is defined by Britannica to ‘provide a capability so powerful and general that it can be used for almost any purpose that depends on information, and it is accessible by any individual who connects to one of its constituent networks.’

Indeed, this vast sphere of knowledge can be nothing but advantageous, right?

Not so much.

Like everything else, the internet has its disadvantages, and one of them - probably the most harmful one - is cyberbullying.

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the bullying that takes place with the use of digital technologies. It takes place on internet platforms like social media, gaming websites, and messaging apps. The intent of it is to scare, anger, or shame the people who are being targeted.

Why is it harmful?

Cyberbullying is like any other form of bullying in the sense that it can cause emotional, psychological, and in some cases, physical trauma.

People who are bullied are at a higher risk of having depression and/or anxiety. Symptoms include struggling at school/work, loss of sleep and appetite, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, etc. In some extreme cases, cyberbullying leads to addiction to drugs and alcohol and even suicide.

Forms of cyberbullying

There are various types of cyberbullying that exist on the internet; here are the most common ones:

• Harassment - It is the constant pattern of saying hurtful or threatening things to someone to harm. Calling someone crude names on the internet and sending explicit messages to someone are examples of harassment.

• Cyberstalking - It is monitoring someone on the internet constantly and is often accompanied by offline stalking.

• Masquerading - This is when the bully creates a made-up identity to bully their target and spread general hate online.

• Trickery - One of the most dangerous forms of cyberbullying, trickery is manipulating the target to divulge personal information about themself and using it for immoral purposes. Cyber trickery is also when the bully gains the target’s trust and abuses it later on.

Prevention and Cure

We have established that cyberbullying is something to be taken seriously as it can have serious repercussions, and now the question arises - how can it be prevented?

The most important thing to do is to keep your privacy safe. This means that you should protect your password from others, put up privacy controls on all social media platforms, and log out of your accounts if you open them on public devices.

You choose what you want to post on social media, but make sure that what you post will not be misused by those who see them. If you are unsure of this fact, it is advisable not to post that content at all. In addition to this, do not talk to strangers on the internet because you don’t know who they really are.

However, if you are cyberbullied, India has laws that act as remedies. For example, Sections 354A and 354D of the IPC provide punishment for the cyberbullying and cyberstalking of women, Section 499 of the IPC provides punishment for those who post derogatory remarks about others online, and other acts under the Information Technology Act(IT Act), 2000.

And finally, educate yourself properly on the topic and inform those around you. Raise awareness about cyberbullying, and do not partake in it.

Hate is a drug - once you start to hate, you can never stop. You keep consuming it until it consumes you. Hate leaves you wounded and scarred forever, so think twice before inflicting it upon others. The internet exists to help you grow as a person, so don’t blemish it with hate, spread love.