The Cyber Bullying Crisis:

Enzo Borlaza

Cyberbullying is the bullying or harassment of others with the use of online or electronic communication such as texts, hate posts, anonymous and fake profiles, is a major issue especially amongst the teenage population and young adults. Because of how easy it is to create anonymity with online platforms, many use this as a way to engage in emotionally and psychologically harming others without reaping the consequences.

Educational Initiatives: To make sure that being a digital citizen is encouraged and followed by the masses, proper education of electronic communication is critical. Incorporating Media and Information literacy (MIL) into the educational system is crucial to highlight responsible online behavior, critical thinking, and sensitivity or being sensible. Having workshops featuring professionals/experts or speakers who have experienced cyberbullying can be an effective way to advocate against cyber bullying and raise awareness.

Promotion of Positive Online Behavior: Promoting positive online behavior involves advocating it on social media and on popular platforms, in order to leverage the use of content. These include videos, infographics, online posts, etc. to help spread the positive message. Encouraging people to make digital citizenship pledges and committing to responsible online behavior can be an effective way to ensure positive behavior. These initiatives can be actioned in schools, workplaces, and organizations to spread advocacy.

Community involvement: The engagement of the community in addressing cyberbullying is crucial. Having parental and community talks and workshops on digital citizenship will help adults understand the importance of being a digital citizenship. This will also encourage guardians and parents to monitor the online behavior of their kids or those under their care. Forming support groups for affected individuals or those concerned about the issue can be a great way to seek and give advice, share experiences and work together towards solutions against the issue at hand.

Solutions: Carrying out online solutions creates a layer of protection against cyberbullying. Collaborating with celebrities and influencers can also be an effective strategy to leverage their large following to promote digital citizenship. These solutions contribute to creating a more digitally responsible generation of people, highlighting the importance of online education, social involvement, and helpful solutions in fighting against cyberbullying.

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