Cyberbullying: What to do if you become a victim? Tips & help | FIV

Cyberbullying – The World Wide Web presents a completely new medium for communication and the exchange of information. And it also offers its users the option to conceal their own identity from others. However, this anonymity is not only associated with advantages, but also with quite a few risks. One of them is undoubtedly cyberbullying. This is identified in statistics as an increasingly serious problem. Alongside stalking, it is ultimately a focal point that neither the government, schools, nor charitable organizations have been able to eliminate so far. The measures introduced to address this have, apart from widespread awareness campaigns, largely been unsuccessful.

Overview hide

Cyberbullying: What is that, exactly?

Are only children victims of bullying?

How should one defend against cyberbullying?

1. Inform the authorities about cyberbullying

2. Set secure passwords

3. Use social media privacy settings

4. Don’t let yourself be provoked

5. Confide in a trusted person

Cyberbullying Documentation, Experiments & Co.

Cyberbullying Experiment with Media Professional Christian Scherg

Documentary: Buying Cyberbullying in the Darknet

Question & Answer: What punishment awaits the perpetrators?

Cyberbullying: What is that, exactly?

As cyberbullying is referred to, it involves the use of digital media to scare, threaten, or otherwise disturb other people. For this purpose, means such as text messages in social media or emails are usually used. Also, a few videos can be created to spread rumors. Victims rarely know how to deal with this. Since the perpetrators remain completely anonymous during the creation, they usually do not know who is targeting them, nor for what reason.

Summary of the definition of cyberbullying:

Scaring or threatening people through digital media
Frequent use of text messages, emails or videos
Perpetrators usually remain anonymous

Are only children victims of bullying?

This question can be answered with a clear “No.” Obviously, cyberbullying often targets children. Adults can also become victims of bullies, however.
As an example, we only need to think of the workplace. How many people have already had to deal with a particularly exhausting colleague there? Not uncommonly, this person is also a bully who simply applies the typical methods of cyberbullying in the real world.

The consequences are usually severe and can range from constant irritation, through depression, to complete burnout and a decline in performance. In the working world, this often leads to a job change in the long term. Completely avoiding the internet, however, is correspondingly difficult in the case of cyberbullying.

How should one defend against cyberbullying?

If you or someone in your personal environment has experienced cyberbullying, action must be taken as soon as possible. There are several options for this:

Inform the authorities about the cyberbullying
Set secure passwords
Use social media privacy settings
Don’t let yourself be provoked
Confide in a trusted person

Let’s take a closer look at these:

1. Inform the authorities about cyberbullying

If you have been a victim of cyberbullying for a longer period of time, it’s time to inform the authorities. Since bullying in the World Wide Web is just as prohibited as in the real world, the perpetrators are actually breaking the law. This means that the police can identify them and ensure appropriate consequences.

2. Set secure passwords

Be aware that perpetrators often try every means to obtain information about you. This can also include cracking the passwords to your email and social media accounts. To prevent this, you should make your used passwords as secure as possible. In case of an emergency, do not hesitate to change them regularly.

3. Use social media privacy settings

As everywhere on the internet, there are also corresponding settings in social media, with which you can determine who can take a look at your posts and your profile. Here, it is best to set it so that only family members or very close friends can gain access. In case of an emergency, you can also temporarily set your account to ‘private’. This way, you can ensure that the perpetrators do not get any further information about you.

4. Don’t let yourself be provoked

Cyberbullies are aiming to get a reaction from you. This can be a simple reply, an excuse, or naturally also a counterattack. It is therefore important not to respond to the perpetrators. This would only confirm that they have power over you and thus encourage them further. Therefore, even in cases of bullying, the rule applies: silence is golden.

5. Confide in a trusted person

Being bullied can lead to a very high stress level, which can cause health problems in the long run. Therefore, find a trustworthy person with whom you can open up and who will support you appropriately to get through this situation.

Apart from awareness, the correct behavior in dealing with bullies is crucial for this topic. There are numerous infographics, awareness forums, and counseling services available online.

Cyberbullying Documentation, Experiments & Co.

Hate on the internet has existed as long as the internet itself, and since then, it has not only concerned schools and employers, but also educators and social scientists. How best to defend yourself against bullies in practice and why it is worth reporting cases of cyberbullying, you will learn here.

Cyberbullying Experiment with Media Professional Christian Scherg

Next to the workplace, school is also a popular place for cyberbullying. How to deal with hate online and how you can get a so-called “shitstorm” under control, you’ll see in the video.

Documentary: Buying Cyberbullying in the Darknet

There are also people who make money with cyberbullying. Where are such services offered, how expensive are they and what do they include? What can we do to better protect our data? And why do some people turn to such smear campaigns? Find out more here.

Question & Answer: What punishment awaits the perpetrators?

What many people don’t know: The German legislature imposes high penalties for cyberbullying. Which laws apply in cases of cyberbullying, when the bully can be charged with assault and when it can even result in up to five years in prison, explains lawyer Christian Solmecke in this video.