Bullying and harassing people over social media have been going on since electronic devices were created, and there are no signs of it going away. There are various forms of cyberbullying, from posting negative or harmful comments to sending out non-consensual pictures of a person online for everyone to see, knowing that it will affect that person’s life on a large scale. 

Cyberbullying most commonly on apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter. Meanwhile, the ages to whom cyberbullying is most common are ages twelve to eighteen. More and more people are on their phones throughout the day, increasing the amount of exposure to cyberbullying.

 “Cyberbullying can lead to someone trying to commit suicide, having someone be angry at themselves,” said Grace Kumar, a freshman at Novato High School. “Even going out in public and getting humiliated by people.”

You can tell if someone is being harassed online, some symptoms include avoiding talking to friends or socializing, losing interest in activities they previously enjoyed, and trouble sleeping. 

Bullying, in general, may increase people’s risk of anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. 

“I’ve never been cyberbullied but I know a couple of people that have been,” said Maitane Cardenas, a freshman at Novato High School. “If someone has been bullied, then I would reassure them that they are a great person and they should report the bully.” 

Whereas some people are sensitive to cyberbullying, others don’t understand why it can be so impactful

“People are just soft,” said Jomar Hernandez, a junior at Novato High School, when asked about cyberbullying. 

It is true that some people might not view cyberbullying as a big problem and might see it as a joke, but for others, it can be their biggest cause of insecurity. Being bullied online by strangers or classmates can be embarrassing or possibly something they don’t even want to admit. This problem seems to be getting worse as many teens can’t get away from it or resolve it.

STOP BULLYING NOW HOTLINE (USA) 1-800-273-8255

• Helpline set up by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services