I Resist Cyber Harassment and Bullying

The internet is a really powerful and helpful medium. For most of us, it plays a big role in our daily lives. We get various information through it while it also makes it easier for us to connect and communicate to our friends, relatives, colleagues or actually even to strangers. It has also gave way to several tools for ordinary people to express their thoughts and beliefs through blogs and social networks while the traditional and mainstream media, including personalities, have found more ways to reach out to readers or followers through the world wide web.

With the many benefits we get from the internet, there are just as many threats and disadvantages out there on its improper use. The internet can also become a medium for delivering incorrect information, destroying reputation, victimizing children and women through pornography and a lot more.

Among these, one of the major problems (but often neglected) is cyber-bullying. But what is cyber-bullying all about? According to stopcyberbullying.org:,

“Cyberbullying” is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking.

With an easy access to the internet and technologies, your child or any minor in your house or family can fall a victim to this. Even adults too can be a victim when they are harassed, exploited or humiliated online although that is considered cyber-stalking or cyber-harassment. These can take place in any online venues such as (but not limited to) blogs, social networks, forums, instant messengers, or a bashing website.

And yes, even well-known personalities and celebrities were victims too. Many of them get nasty and negative comments about how they perform or look.

A perfect example would be Justin Bieber. Despite his fame, there are detractors out there who can’t help but keep on bashing and make fun of him. Later on, it was found out that someone just played on his online bio on Wikipedia.

Let’s don’t go any farther. Even our own Charice became a victim of cyber-bullying which pushed her to just delete her Faceboook account.

If celebrities are very prone to this, then what more for ordinary individuals? Just last year, Alexis Skye Pilkington, a 17-year old girl fell a victim when she was found dead in her room after repeated instances of cyber-bullying. The worse part was the attacks continued even after she died. (More about it here: http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=1370)

When it is just a joke or a laughing item to some, often, its victims (mostly children) usually end up being frustrated, intimidated, depressed, or scared. On a worse scenario, it can even be fatal and just end to death. It is only clear that for every instances of cyber-bullying and harassment, future and life are at stake.

I remember a blogger friend being bashed by somebody here on my blog some time ago. So as a friend, I just told her about the nasty comment about her. We tried to find out who was it and what could be the motive for doing so. I know somehow she was affected by it but thankfully she was able to face it maturely and ignore it.

Not so long ago, when I was starting, I was also bashed by some bloggers on Facebook and in a forum site. On that instance, what I knew was I didn’t do anything wrong. They were talking about me and each of them reacting on what I did even if they didn’t personally know me. Since they were “much experienced” by then, they should have just directly contacted and told me of anything wrong. I was deeply affected too. I explained my side to them but barely none of them listened and just continued bashing me. Instead of me building a network on their forum, I just decided to not visit that site any longer and just move on and continue with life.

Good thing we were mature enough to face scenarios like these. But not everyone is like us. We will not know how a person will turn out or face anything like this if ever that moment will come. In 2012, I will speak up against cyber harassment and cyber bullying. I won’t let anyone be the next victim. As long as I blog, I will spread the word about it and make people be informed what it is all about and why we have to take this problem seriously.

Anyone in your neighborhood and family can be a victim. Could you just let it happen? I guess not. From now on, let’s all take a stand and bring awareness to everyone so no one becomes the next victim of cyber harassment and bullying. From here, I hope everyone will speak up and take the next step to stop cyber bullying.

And since it’s almost New Year, I hope we bring a good stand on this coming brand new year and moving forward. I hope that House Bill No. 5391 also known as the Anti-Cyber Bullying Act of the Philippines will soon be passed and be well-implemented to stop and fine any person who causes any form of harm through the use of technologies and internet.