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Have you ever been cyberbullied? by @priscilla monteiro · Zencastr

Bullying has been a thing for eons and has now rolled over to the internet! Imagine sharing your thoughts and opinions, only to get “jumped” by a bunch of cyberbullies?

Social media allows us to connect with our friends and strangers all around the world. There are many advantages to socializing with friends online versus in private. For instance, when my friends comment on a post, I can reply to the original post or comment with my own opinion. From there, like-minded users can reply. The downside is when someone gets offended and gets attacked by several users.

Photo Credit: Taylor Swift 2010 by avrilllllla

Celebrities including Adele, Taylor Swift, Ciara, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Chris Brown, and Floyd Mayweather, to name a few. Who in their right mind would bully one of the greatest boxers of all time? There are many cyberbullies who hide behind anonymous social media accounts and post negative comments whenever possible. Many big-name stars have been a victim of cyberbullying who are typically obsessed fans, according to Celebrity Toob.

I can recall a time when I commented on a post that made mention of a pasta shortage. It was the regional talk of the town because – who doesn’t love pasta! The backstory is that there was a man who was cleaning out his deceased mom’s home in New Jersey and found several pounds of pasta hoarded in her pantry and closet. She ended up dumping the pasta in a nearby wooded area people often dump construction materials, bed frames, and furniture.

Photo Credit: Nina Jochnowitz

It was reported on every local news outlet and Instagram users had a field day posting humorous comments. I chimed in and added that the pasta shortage could possibly be from what was dumped in New Jersey. While several hundred users liked my comment and even replied with laughing emojis, other users decided to attack me. One user stated, “How would you like it if it were fried chicken and watermelon”. Another user called me an “insensitive a-hole”. This downward spiral made me reevaluate my comment and consider deletion. I was being attacked left and right like a helpless child in the school cafeteria. Finally, my Instagram buddies stepped up to my defense and chewed those users up. I went from getting my butt kicked, to standing in the middle of the crowd like a warrior prepared for battle. Although harassment and bullying can cause depression and emotional distress, it is something not to be tolerated.

How do you respond to Cyberbullying?

Either you do or you don’t. It can either cause more turmoil and conflict or you could put someone in their place to the point where they back off. I’ve learned that when you embarrass someone in front a large crowd, they tend to back off.

What psychological effect does cyberbullying have on yourself or anyone else?

At that moment, it feels horrible! It feels like you are getting cornered by a bunch of starving vultures. You go back and forth with your conscious trying to decide how to handle the situation in hopes that things don’t go left. A celebrity had more to risk either way. If they respond and offend someone, they could face a defamation lawsuit but on the contrary, if they don’t reply, their fans may view them as weak or cowardly.

What advice do you have for anyone who is struggling with cyberbullying? Stand your ground. Don’t let anyone pick on you whether in person or online. The more a bully is allowed the opportunity to insult or attack you, the longer it will drag out. Report them to the social media platforms’ admin, block the user, and call them out every time until they retreat.