“Atlanta 11 Alive” news recently did an insightful story on cyberbullying from two very intelligent students’ perspectives, 12-year-old Michaela and nine-year-old Madison.
Michaela is in the 7th grade and Madison is in the 4th grade.
Michaela stated:
It kind of makes me sick to my stomach.
Name-calling to, like, swearing to threats it can happen like that in a matter of minutes.
You have to wear this, this, and this or else you’re not cool.
Also, your body has to do this, this, and this otherwise you’re not cool.
It is a lot. It’s a lot for kids.
There’s all this pressure on us to wear the right thing and say the right thing and feel the right thing.
But what is the right thing to feel?
Madison stated:
Rumors can spread so easy. It spreads like wildfire.
If someone said that your clothes are ugly on social media that can get multiple views and like even if you delete it, it just doesn’t go away.
Now on TikTok, there is something called, like, repost and that makes it just even worse for the person who’s getting bullied.
People might feel unsafe at school because someone is bullying them, and the parent might not even see that person is hurting.
TikTok and YouTube there is a filter that tells you, like, you can’t say, like, some really mean stuff.
But on Instagram people just don’t care.
If you’re not heard then no one will be able to help you.
It just matters if you like how you look and if you love yourself, it does not matter what other people think, it just matters what you think.
Both girls agreed that they see the most bullying on Instagram.
Tessa Stuckey, a licensed counselor and mom of four who specializes in issues facing youth today, says through the years, the victims of cyberbullying started getting younger and younger, and now she works with eight and nine-year-olds with really dark thoughts.
Also Read: Ginuwine Responds To ‘Cyberbullying’ Memes: I Got A Lil Time’
Tessa said the key to identifying cyberbullying is noting changes in your child’s behavior.
If they snap at you, they roll their eyes and you can easily be like, ‘Excuse me, no ma’am, or you can say, ‘Hey, you’ve been seeming a little off lately is something going on?’
Watch the “Atlanta 11 Alive” cyberbullying news report on Michaela and Maddison below:
Please talk to your children about bullying, and like Madison said encourage them to love themselves because nothing else matters.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the convo on our socials. (Facebook, Instagram).
Also Read: Toya Wright BLASTS Folks For Cyberbullying Her Daughters: ‘Who TF Raised Y’all?!’
