Together we can save lives! Stop Cyberbullying

Bullying has become a major issue due to technology. Social media and texting allow bullying to follow kids home. About 37% of students aged 12-17 have experienced bullying online. LGBTQ students are particularly vulnerable, with 50% reporting online bullying. Anonymity allows kids to act without consequences, with 23% admitting to saying or doing things online they wouldn't do in person. The consequences are severe, as 93% of victims experience negative mental health effects. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for kids aged 10-24, with 20% considering it. We can help by thinking before posting, speaking up when we see bullying, and reporting it to adults or platforms. Let's make the online world safe for everyone and save lives. Hey lovelies, today's technology has made bullying a giant problem in our society. Before social media, a child would be able to go home and get away from the bullying they were experiencing at school. Now it follows them home. A whopping 37% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 have reported being bullied either on social media or through text messages. All kids are susceptible to being bullied online. Those who are part of the LGBTQ community are the most susceptible, with 50% of them reporting being bullied online. Being able to post anonymously makes it so kids don't have to think about the consequences of their posts. 23% of kids have reported that they have said or done something online that they wouldn't do or say otherwise. What is the consequence of these actions, you ask? Well, 93% of kids who have been a victim of online bullying have reported that they have some kind of negative impact on their mental health. This can be anxiety, depression, negative self-worth, or even suicide. Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 24? More than 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide. Whether you are in person or online, your words matter. What can you do to help with this problem? The first thing you can do is think before you post. Would it be okay if I said this to someone I love? Would I be okay if this was said to me? Secondly, if you see something, say something. Only 1 in every 10 students reports being bullied online, and those that witness online bullying rarely do anything about it. Being an upstander instead of a bystander doesn't just apply to in-person situations. If you see someone being bullied, stand up for them. Lastly, if you are being bullied, don't suffer alone. Alert the platform you are using and or report the activity to a trusted adult. Together, we can make online a safe space for everyone. Together, we can save lives.