Cyberbullying is defined as ‘an online form of abuse, targeting a specific person’ with the intent ‘to cause social, psychological or even physical harm or intimidation’ (Headspace 2023). Online bullying is usually anonymous or often very hard to trace. While kids and young people are aware that negative comments, exclusion, threats and or sharing of photos and videos without permission can have a detrimental effect on their self-esteem and reputation, they may not be aware of the long term effects of sustained targeted behaviour.
Kidshealth warn ‘The stress of being in a constant state of upset or fear can lead to problems with mood, energy level, sleep, and appetite. It also can make someone feel jumpy, anxious, or sad [or even] tormented whenever they check their device’ (2022).
In our live show, The Playground Craze teaches ‘Copy, block, report’ as a mantra for kids and young people to use when dealing with unwanted or unkind behaviour. If they act at the first sign of trouble it can often prevent them from getting into trouble. This is an example of when it is helpful to pause and think before an action is taken that can’t be undone.
When discussing cyberbulling The Playground Craze advocates also talking about cyberkindess. The concept of showing kindness online is an essential ingredient for online interaction of all kinds and became a vital message to all students during the COVID19 lockdowns. Practising cyberkindness is a proactive way for people to prevent cyberbullying.