Why it's Okay to Cyberbully

Cyberbullying occurs when a person (often a child, preteen, or teenager) is bullied, harassed, humiliated, threatened, embarrassed, or targeted in some way by another person (often a child, preteen or teenager). And though we all know the effects of cyberbullying, very few of us contemplate the reasons or motives that lie behind the screen.

Our motives are simple; as humans, we tend to engage in what's known as "practical reasoning" where we deliberate about what to do and how to do it. More often than not, we act in light of reasons which can explain our actions, and justify them.

Source: Click on image

When it comes to cyberbullying, the intended purpose is the same (to emotionally hurt the target/victim) yet the motives tend to differ;-

Source: Click on image

Revenge:

Bullying victims find a way to retaliate through cyber-bullying. They feel justified in their actions because they, too, have been harassed and tormented. By cyberbullying others, they may feel a sense of relief and vindication for what they experienced.

Source: Click on image

Entertainment:

Kids who are bored and looking for entertainment will sometimes resort to cyberbullying to spice things up or to add some excitement and drama to their lives.

Source: Click on image

Preserving Social Status:

Cyberbullying can be a manifestation of social status. Kids who are popular often make fun of kids who are less popular. They use the internet to extend their 'authority'. Meanwhile, kids who are trying to climb the social ladder at school or gain some social power will resort to cyberbullying to get attention.

Anger:

In a spur of the moment, some teens resort to cyberbullying, completely unaware of their actions. While anger is a natural emotion, it can have detrimental effects when these feelings get out of control. Cyberbullies in this category just respond to emails and postings without thinking, and thus, often inadvertently hurt other people. They click before they think.

Source: Click on image

Peer Pressure:

Sometimes kids will cyberbully to fit in with a group of friends. As a result, these kids succumb to peer pressure in order to be accepted by a group at school, even if it means going against their better judgment. They are more concerned with fitting in than they are worried about the consequences of cyberbullying.

Source: Click on image

Jealousy:

Some of the things that make people different are generally neutral characteristics, but some, like being smart, focused, or creative often represent attributes that some cyberbullies wished they shared with their victim. By seeking to undermine someone else’s skills by sending nasty comments online, cyberbullies try to create a more level-playing field. Frustration:

Attention is what some teens want. There is a chance they lack attention and supervision from parents; some even suffer from family conflicts. As a result of their pent up frustration due to their inability to gain the necessary attention, some kids resort to cyberbullying as a form of release.

Source: Click on image

"There's a reason to everything," they say, and although it's evident that the motives behind cyberbullying aren't quite as clear-cut as we'd like it to be, the effects of it, are.

As much as we are human, and as much as we need to justify ourselves, just because something (our actions) is justifiable, doesn't mean that it's right. See, to you it may be okay, but you're only looking at one piece of the puzzle. Take a step back, and look at the picture as a whole; realize your actions, although may have valid reasons, do not necessarily equate to being right.

Source: Click on image

References

Endcyberbullying.net. (2017). Delete Cyberbullying - Why Do People Cyberbully?. [online] Available at: http://endcyberbullying.net/why-do-people-cyberbully/ [Accessed 9 Nov. 2017].

English BINUS University. (2017). What are the Causes of Cyber Bullying?. [online] Available at: https://english.binus.ac.id/2015/06/22/what-are-the-causes-of-cyber-bullying/ [Accessed 8 Nov. 2017].

NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources. (2017). What are the Causes of Bullying - NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources. [online] Available at: https://nobullying.com/what-are-the-causes-of-bullying/ [Accessed 9 Nov. 2017].

NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources. (2017). Is Envy Causing Your Child To Bully Others? - NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources. [online] Available at: https://nobullying.com/envy/ [Accessed 9 Nov. 2017].

Verywell. (2017). 8 Reasons Why Bullies Engage in Hurtful Behavior. [online] Available at: https://www.verywell.com/reasons-why-teens-bully-others-460532 [Accessed 8 Nov. 2017].

Viral 4 Real. (2017). 5 Reasons and Motives Why Children Cyberbully. [online] Available at: http://www.viral4real.com/5-reasons-and-motives-why-children-cyberbully/ [Accessed 8 Nov. 2017].

Yourselfseries.com. (2017). Reasons People Cyber-bully. [online] Available at: http://yourselfseries.com/teens/topic/cyberbullying/reasons-people-cyber-bully/ [Accessed 8 Nov. 2017].