Why Cyber Bullies Target People They Know
Bullies who create cyberbullying usually choose victims they know or have known, why?
For the vast majority of adolescents, the Internet is much more than a study tool, it is also a social tool and they do not dispense with it at all. The Internet is part of the life of any person and now more than ever, also in the lives of adolescents. They connect with their friends through social media or chat through free messaging apps.
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IT’S A NIGHTMARE FOR THE VICTIM
But these interactions can turn into a nightmare when teens become victims of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying or cyberbullying is more likely to occur between teenagers who know each other. There are some types of teens who are more likely to become victims of cyberbullying, such as being girls or not being heterosexual. In general, cyberbullying generally involves everything from threats, rumors, and gossip, to humiliating photos, identity theft, and the posting of humiliating videos .
As if that were not enough, cyberbullying has serious consequences for victims and can be even more difficult to overcome than direct bullying, since cyberbullying can occur even when the adolescent is at home, where he considers his refuge. In addition, it is considered especially serious when the stalkers were previously friends of the victim, or at least, were considered as such.
Another reason why cyberbullying is so traumatic is that victims not only feel there is no way out, but they also feel that everyone is aware of what is happening. Suddenly, they no longer feel safe in their homes due to the always connected aspect of their daily lives. For all this, it is very important for parents to recognize if their children are at greater risk of being bullied by someone close to them or by a stranger.
WHY THEY CHOOSE VICTIMS THEY KNOW
When it comes to understanding why children cyber bullying each other, the reasons can be many and varied. For many, they are simply competing for their place on the social ladder and will use whatever means they can to maintain their position. For other teens, the reasons are much more complicated. Here are some reasons why a former friend or partner of a teenager might cyberbully your child.
-He wants to spread your son’s secrets. When a teenage relationship ends, some of them hold a grudge and want revenge so they can use the secrets as ammunition. The goal is to decrease the pain they feel when hurting the other person by attracting the attention of others.
-He wants revenge. When a relationship ends or something happens in a friendship, they may feel affected by that breakup and want to do anything to get revenge. To do this they can make up stories or spread false rumors.
– Feel envy. Envy is often the root cause of any type of harassment. Maybe your child has something that another teenager wants. The stalker’s thinking is that if I can’t have it, I don’t want it to.
-He wants to improve his social position. Sometimes teens turn to a friend or bully if they think that will secure a place in the most popular group of teens. They may give in to peer pressure just so they don’t feel left out without taking into account the feelings of others.
-Humiliating another person. Some people will use cyberbullying to humiliate and harass another person and when this happens it is a clear sign that the relationship or friendship was abusive and the person who is bullying does not want your child to have control over him / her.
As a parent, you will need to be vigilant to detect any signs of abuse towards your child. You need to do what you see fit to protect your child from the serious emotional wounds caused by cyberbullying.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.