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Manuela Moreno
Professor Bevill
ENGL-1302-11
15 March, 2015
Cyber Bullying; A New Form of Abuse
A recent and popular yet harsh activity that has sprouted up from the increasing daily use
of the internet in this generation is cyber bullying. The word cyber bullying didnt even exist a
decade ago, yet it is pervasive today (Holladay 1).Cyber bullying can be defined as the use of
electronic communication to demean, insult, threaten, or intimidate a person through private
messages or publically, usually through means of social media. While some may set cyber
bullying to the side and think nothing of it, the reality of the effects is that cyber bullying can
create an immense amount of damage and pain to the victim which in turn can lead to extreme
events. These cyber-attacks occur more often than imagined, according to the National Parent/
Teacher association, studies show that at least one in every three U.S. teens will be bullied by
someone in cyberspace (1). Cyber bullying takes a major toll on a person that many people are
unaware of or do not take into account. Victims may endure much mental and emotional stress
and pain and the resulting depression or embarrassment may lead to physical self-harm, suicide,
and revenge. The general public may not realize it but victims who are bullied through means of
the internet may respond to the attacks in different ways, but it leaves many susceptible to
psychological and emotional duress that can be very serious and impact individuals in an
immensely negative manner.
The effects of cyber bullying create an emotional instability and stress which can lead the
harassed to feel defeated and helpless. The emotional problems that arise when someone

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experiences bullying first-hand weigh heavily on ones well-being. Adolescents may begin to
struggle with low self-esteem, a loss of interest in studies, detachment from peers, and loneliness
becomes their companion. Serious trauma develops in victims at hands of the bullies, and there is
a []horrific mental and emotional scar that bullies leave on their devastated victims---that
often last a life time [] (USA Today 2). Cyber bullying can also lead to an overwhelming
feeling of powerlessness, anger, timidity, bitterness, vengeful and spiteful thoughts, and an
extremely low spirit. The emotional effects created from the torment of cyber bullying stem from
the embarrassment of it. Social media provides a platform in which bullies may attack their
victims with a much larger audience than what could be possible in-person. Victims are affected
at their schools, their jobs, and even in their own homes. The abuse can destroy [an
individuals] confidence and self-esteem[] (1). The daunting effects of feeling vulnerable to a
wide range of people, both known and unknown can cause deep psychological harm.
Cyber bullying may create psychological damage that leads to temporary or permanent
effects which can cause unnecessary daily struggles. The stakes on getting bullied have reached a
peak and have shockingly continued to increases. This new type of bullying that is created in the
digital world will most likely manifest in the physical. Victims of cyber bullying may face longterm psychological effects which may lead to severe suffering from suicidal thoughts, depressive
disorders, generalized depressive disorders, panic disorder and agoraphobia; the extreme or
irrational fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public activities. Obviously, cyber bullying has a
major impact that goes beyond the surface and alters the chemicals in the brain. The re-arranging
of chemicals has a tremendous impact and begins to show on the outside.
Unfortunately, the effects of cyber bullying may be too overwhelming for some to bear
and in extreme cases suicide or revenge towards the bully and others may occur. Words are

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impacting and powerful and if used in the wrong way these words can breed death, hate, and
vengeance. The past few years the correlation between suicide and cyber bullying has increased
drastically. The perspective on cyber bullying does not usually go further than the belief that it is
simply teasing. In reality, being bullied has shown time and time again the cataclysmic effects
that come from the emotional and mental damage. Studies revealed that cyber bullying victims
are more likely to attempt suicide instead of those who were not targeted and received abuse
online (Holladay 5). These intense and mind-boggling emotions can be too much for one
individual to deal with, which can sadly lead them to end their life. Anywhere from one-third to
one-half of youths have been targeted by cyber-bullies. And those experiences produce damaging
consequences-from a decline in academic performance to suicide (Holladay 5). Suicide is only
one of extreme effect; vengeance is also shown to be a fatal and tragic outcome. Most people
have heard or seen events on the news about school shooting or physical encounters with the
bullies. There is so much hate that builds up that the bullied may become enraged and seek
vengeance on the bully or bullies; sometimes there are innocent people involved.
The side effects of cyber bullying are more intense and impacting than most people
believe. This new way of bullying penetrates deeply into the minds of its victims. Victims are left
feeling open, vulnerable, and humiliated when they are attacked on social media outlets. The fear
of multitudes of people seeing ones vulnerability and embarrassment exponentially increases the
damage caused by cyber bullying. When the damage is increased there is also an increase in the
chance victims will want to retaliate. But not retaliation in the usual sense; the persons mind
begins to doubt itself and deem itself unworthy. Therefore, victims will shut down socially or not
want to exist anymore, an extreme case sometimes leading to suicide.

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In the public eye, cyber bullying may go completely under the raider but obviously its
effects are more serious and detrimental than perceived. The act of cyber bullying does more
than cause extremely negative side effects to the victims directly in its path but also affects those
who are close to them. When a person is attacked in a social setting they want nothing more than
to seek out loneliness and shut themselves off from everyone and everything, causing those
people that are close to hurt too. It is almost as if they lost a person that is physically still there.
Cyber bullying just as real psychical bullying can cause multiple permanent mental, emotional,
and psychological disorders which can range from mild to severe cases. The severity of online
harassment needs to be addressed due to the damage it is able to cause inwardly and outwardly.
Once there is a general awareness of the end results of this new type of bullying then
preventative measures can begin to be taken.

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Work Cited
Cyberbulling takes toll in an instant. USA Today [serial on the Internet]. (n.d.), [cited April 15,
2015]: Available from: MasterFILE Premier.
Cyberbullied. Current Events 108.4 (2008): 4-5. Academic Search Complete. Web 15 Apr.
2015. 20
Holladay, Jennifer. Cyberbullying. Education Digest 76.5 (2011): 4. MasterFILE Premier.Web.
15 Apr. 2015
Mother Wants Maximum Penalty in Cyberbullying Case. New York Times 29 Nov. 2008: 17.
MasterFILE Premier. Web. 15 Apr. 2015
Nixon, Charisse L. Current Perspectives: The Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescent
Health.Adolescent Health, Medicine & Therapeutics 5.(2014): 143-158. Academic
Search Complete.Web. 15 Apr. 2015