There are many forms of bullying. Cyberbullying is one of them. There are many examples of cyberbullying that we can see. It is also a serious issue. Moreover, it has been increasing in numbers over the last few years. The effects of cyberbullying are many. The person who is affected by it and also somebody who is seeing this happen both get affected. Also, there are many examples of cyberbullying where it is seen that teenagers are targeted more often as compared to adults. The person who is a target of cyberbullying has many negative emotions. Anger, frustration, and guilt are some of them. They also feel isolated and do not know whom to seek help. For teenagers, their studies are affected. Some people might also harm themselves. Others who witness it happening to someone else also have adverse effects of cyberbullying. They feel anxious, scared, and also helpless.

  We live in a digital age. Technology has advanced so much. Hence, the cases of cyberbullying are also many. There are many examples of where cyberbullying happens such as:

• Everyone uses social media sites. Hence, many people can access personal information easily. Also, people can hide their personal names and details. This adds to creating opportunities.
• Messaging apps. The most common way of cyberbullying is through text messaging. Many people receive messages which are scams and they fall trap this easily.
• Many social media sites allow people to chat with one another directly. This is also another popular way to bully someone. Any person can send messages easily and by hiding their personal details.
• Chat rooms and online forums are for positive purposes such as discussing a topic or sharing ideas. This can also be a way to bully.
• Sending emails. Another popular place is through emails.
• Online games. This is one of the many common examples of cyberbullying. Mainly teens fall prey to this by playing online games.

The examples of cyberbullying are many. Similarly, the effects of cyberbullying are also many. It can affect the person’s mind, body, and overall well-being. Many teens are also affected because of this. Even the bullies may face the effects of cyberbullying. The effects of cyberbullying are:

1. They may feel a lot of negative emotions. Negative emotions such as feeling sad, angry, fearful, and also guilty. They might also feel lonely and isolated.
2. Feeling anxious
3. Feeling scared.
4. Changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
5. Having a lot of headaches or even stomach aches.
6. Trying to harm oneself or even having suicide ideas.
7. Trouble in focusing. For teens, it can have an impact on their school work where they might score lower grades or have issues in studies.
8. The victim might also find it hard to trust people.
9. Difficulty in meeting people or interacting with them.
10. Feeling lonely and isolated.

The effects of cyberbullying are many. The examples of cyberbullying also show us that the issue is grave. It is important to know how it affects the person. This also helps us to find ways to deal with the issues.

If you are someone who is a victim then you can do-

1. Talk to a trusted adult. This could be a parent, friend, or even counselor.
2. Take evidence. This means you can take screenshots of the messages or even pictures of the emails.
3. If the bully is on social media then block them from all social media sites and apps that you have access to.
4. Report on the social media site or app.
5. If you are a teenager, then you should inform your parent at the earliest. This is the first step to stopping what is going on.
6. Take support from experts like a counselor or doctor.
7. Look for support groups and join them.
8. Alert the police if needed.
9. Help them to store proof.

To deal with the examples of cyberbullying, we need tips. It is natural to feel confused. Also, do not know what to do next. These tips are helpful in such times.

1. Do not be judgemental. We might pass comments or remarks. But, be mindful not to do it.
2. Ask them if they have eaten well or slept well. Some people are so confused that they forget to do this.
3. Check if they are safe. Physical safety is important. If you sense they are not, then you can call the police for help.
4. If someone shares with you then make sure you are calm. It is easy to feel scared. But, for them, you could be the only support that they have for now. You can ask them open-ended questions. Find out more details about the incident but also focus on how they are feeling. Listen to them without making any judgments. You can also ask them how you can support them.
5. Show your support. You can show support through your words and not just actions. You need to tell them that no matter what happens you will be there for them at all times.
6. Some people are so overwhelmed by the entire incident. They also feel lost and do not know what to do. The first thing they need to do is block their contact. Help them block the contact from all social media sites and apps. You can also help them to report the incident where it took place. Most social media sites and apps have their own security team. So, reporting it to them also helps to stop this person from using the site.
7. Seek expert help if needed.

The examples and effects of cyberbullying help us to know that the issue is grave. Being supportive helps the victim. The earlier we look for help the better it is. It also helps us to take the right steps. Many people feel many emotions. They also do not know how to deal with them. Hence, talking to a counselor helps them. This article is helpful to look at during such times. We also have courses on mental health on our epsych website. There is one course on Coping with bullying (teens). To enroll in this course to know more about the topic.