With the increasing use of the Internet and social media among children and adolescents, cyberbullying has become one of the biggest challenges facing modern society. In this article, we will discuss the harms of cyberbullying through real-life experiences, and review how this type of bullying can affect children psychologically and socially. We will also highlight the effects of cyberbullying.

First, the definition of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet or digital devices to harm another person by harassing, threatening, or insulting them. This includes sending abusive messages, spreading false rumors, or sharing embarrassing or personal information without permission.

Forms of cyberbullying

There are many forms that cyberbullying can take, each of which has a different impact on the victim:

Direct threats:

• Where the bully sends threats of physical or psychological harm to the victim via text messages or social media.

Frequent harassment:

• It involves repeatedly sending offensive or insulting messages to harass the victim.

Spreading rumors:

• A bully spreads lies or rumors about a victim online with the aim of damaging their reputation or causing them harm.

Phishing:

• The bully deliberately provokes the victim into heated arguments or angry reactions.

Impersonation:

• The bully impersonates the victim and posts offensive content or sends messages in their name to damage their reputation.

Real-life experiences show the dangers of cyberbullying

Sarah 's experience

Sarah, a 12-year-old girl, was bullied on social media. After one of her classmates posted photos of her in a humiliating way, she began to feel isolated and embarrassed. The impact of this incident deepened in her personal life, as her academic performance declined, and she began to avoid communicating with her friends for fear of being ridiculed.

This real-life experience illustrates how damaging cyberbullying can be to children, as it can destroy their self-confidence and affect their psychological state.

Ahmed's experience

Ahmed, 14, was bullied through threatening messages via instant messaging apps. This bullying was not limited to messages, but also extended to school, where he became afraid to go. The experience made Ahmed feel lonely and isolated, and negatively affected his psychological state.

The impact of cyberbullying on children

The dangers of cyberbullying on children are diverse and multiple, and are clearly evident at the psychological, social, and academic levels. With the increased use of technology and the increasing reliance on social media, cyberbullying has become one of the most dangerous threats facing children and adolescents today. Children who are exposed to this type of bullying face a range of negative effects that may leave long-term effects on their lives.

First, the psychological effects

One of the most serious dangers of cyberbullying is the profound psychological impact it has on children.

• A child who is exposed to this type of bullying feels constant fear and anxiety about being harassed further.
• These constant fears lead to depression and anxiety, as the child finds himself trapped in a virtual world from which he cannot escape.
• What makes the situation even more complicated is that cyberbullying can happen at any time, even when a child is in their own home, where they are supposed to feel safe.

The dangers of cyberbullying increases when a child feels a loss of self-confidence.

• He begins to doubt his abilities and character, and feels that he is not worthy of respect or love, which may lead to feelings of helplessness and despair.
• In some severe cases, it may reach the point of self-harm, where the child begins to try to escape the psychological pain in physically harmful ways.
• Many studies have shown that children who are exposed to cyberbullying are more likely to think about suicide due to the great psychological pressure they suffer from.

Secondly, social effects

In addition to the psychological effects, the harms of cyberbullying leave profound social effects on a child’s life.

• Children who are cyberbullied often feel isolated and withdrawn.
• They are afraid to socialize with their friends or go to school for fear of being bullied or made fun of again.
• This social isolation affects the child's ability to build healthy relationships with others and leads to a decrease in his level of social interaction.

The effects of cyberbullying can significantly change a child's social behavior.

• A child may become more aggressive or withdrawn in response to bullying.
• In some cases, the child may try to isolate himself completely from others, whether at school or at home, which worsens his psychological state and makes him feel even more lonely.

Thirdly, the impact on academic performance

One of the most affected aspects of cyberbullying is a child's academic performance.

• Children who are exposed to this type of bullying have difficulty concentrating on their studies.
• The constant fear and anxiety they feel makes them unable to concentrate on studying or enjoy any academic activity.
• This leads to lower grades and a decline in their academic performance in general.
• In addition, a child who is being cyberbullied may feel ashamed to go to school, leading to frequent absences from classes.
• The more he is absent, the greater the gap between him and his peers, which leads to a decline in his educational level and makes him feel more frustrated and helpless.
• In some cases, this may lead to dropping out of school altogether, as the child feels that the school environment is no longer safe for them.

It is clear that the dangers of cyberbullying go beyond verbal or psychological abuse, as it directly affects the child’s mental health, destroys his ability to interact socially, and leads to a decline in his academic level. Therefore, society, parents, and schools must be fully aware of these risks and work together to protect children from cyberbullying and ensure their psychological, social, and academic safety.

Effects of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying does not only have a limited impact in time, but it also has a series of long-term damages that affect the child’s life in multiple aspects. These effects may appear in the short and long term and include psychological, physical, and social effects. Cyberbullying can place a huge burden on the child, his family, and society as a whole, so it is necessary to highlight its consequences.

Long-term psychological effects

While the immediate psychological effects are often talked about, the dangers of cyberbullying extend to long-term psychological problems.

• The child may develop psychological disorders that accumulate over the years, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the child lives in a state of constant fear and rethinks the negative experiences he has gone through.
• These experiences can also lead to a permanent loss of self-confidence, affecting the child's future personality and relationships.
• Even after the bullying period ends, the child may find it difficult to return to normal life or trust others, which can lead to social isolation in the future.

Effects on physical health

The dangers of cyberbullying may not be immediately physically apparent, but they lead to long-term health problems.

• Children who are bullied suffer from psychological stress, which leads to physical symptoms such as chronic headaches and digestive problems due to constant stress.
• Children who are bullied may also resort to unhealthy eating or sleeping patterns, which negatively impacts their physical development.
• In some cases, psychological stress can weaken the immune system, making the child more susceptible to diseases.

Impact on academic and professional future

One of the most serious dangers of cyberbullying is its impact on a child’s academic and professional future.

• Children who experience cyberbullying often lose the ability to concentrate on studying, leading to a decline in academic performance.
• This decline may worsen and affect their educational future, as the child may be forced to leave school or reduce his academic ambitions.
• Later on, this academic decline can affect their career choices, reducing their opportunities in the job market.

Impact on social relationships and ability to interact

Cyberbullying can undermine a child's ability to build healthy relationships with others.

• The child may feel unable to trust anyone, even close friends or family members.
• This leads to difficulty developing communication and social interaction skills, which are essential for future personal and professional growth.
• A child who is being bullied may avoid engaging in social or academic activities for fear of further bullying, isolating him from his environment and limiting his social development.

influence on behavior

Children who are exposed to cyberbullying may experience noticeable behavioral changes.

• They may become more aggressive or withdrawn as a result of the psychological stress they face.
• In some cases, they may try to imitate the bullies' behaviors as a way to defend themselves or to cope with feelings of helplessness.
• This tradition can lead to a recurring cycle of bullying, where the child who was a victim becomes a bully in turn.
• In the long run, this may lead to deviant behavior or problems with the law in the future.

It is clear that the harms of cyberbullying extend beyond the direct psychological effects to affect physical health, academic performance, and social relationships. These multiple and interrelated effects highlight the importance of early intervention and serious dealing with cases of cyberbullying. By providing appropriate psychological and educational support to children, these harms can be reduced and they can be given the opportunity to recover and build a brighter and healthier future.

The role of parents in supporting children to protect them from the dangers of cyberbullying

Parents play a crucial role in protecting children from the dangers of cyberbullying, as their continued support can help children confront this phenomenon and overcome its negative effects. With children’s increasing use of technology and their constant exposure to social media, the role of parents becomes essential in educating their children and protecting them from the psychological and social harm resulting from cyberbullying.

Awareness and guidance

The first step in protecting children from the harms of cyberbullying is to educate them about the dangers of the Internet and how to act if they are bullied.

• Parents should teach children how to use the Internet safely and responsibly, including the importance of protecting personal information and avoiding interaction with strangers.
• Parents can also direct children to report bullying when it occurs, whether through online platforms or by talking to teachers or school officials.

Building trust and enhancing communication

• It is very important that children feel safe and confident when talking to their parents about any problems they are facing online.
• The harms of cyberbullying can be exacerbated if a child feels ashamed or afraid to disclose their experience.
• Therefore, parents should build an open communication relationship with their children, where the child can feel confident talking about any problem he may face.
• Parents should also listen with empathy and without judgment, to ensure that the child feels fully supported.

Monitoring online activity

An important aspect of protecting children from the harms of cyberbullying is monitoring their online activity.

• Parents can use parental controls to limit the amount of time a child spends online and what type of content they can access.
• But it is necessary to do this in a balanced way without the child feeling spied on or losing privacy, which may lead to a loss of trust between him and his parents.
• Instead, the focus should be on guiding the safe use of technology.

Providing psychological support

• If a child is being cyberbullied, the role of parents is not limited to providing safety and support, but also includes early intervention to provide psychological support.
• It may be necessary to work with mental health professionals to help the child deal with negative feelings that may result from bullying, such as anxiety and depression.

In short, protecting children from the dangers of cyberbullying depends largely on the role of parents in raising awareness, promoting trust, monitoring online activity, and providing psychological support. Through these steps, parents can ensure a safe environment for their children, whether online or in everyday life.

The role of elmadrasah.com in protecting children from the harms of cyberbullying

elmadrasah.com is an integrated educational platform that seeks to promote a safe and effective educational environment. In light of the increasing dangers of cyberbullying and its negative effects on children, elmadrasah.com plays a vital role in raising awareness among students and parents and providing the necessary support to protect children from this phenomenon. In this paragraph, we review the most prominent roles of elmadrasah.com in this context.

Awareness of students and parents

• elmadrasah.com provides workshops and training courses specifically for students and parents on the dangers of cyberbullying and how to recognize its signs.
• These programs include information on how to deal with bullying, whether that's reporting troublesome situations or seeking help.
• This awareness builds community awareness of this issue and provides individuals with the knowledge to protect themselves and others.

Provide personalized educational content

• elmadrasah.com provides educational content that focuses on developing children's social and emotional skills.
• Through various educational programs, children are taught how to deal with their feelings and understand the feelings of others, which helps reduce the likelihood of bullying occurring.
• These skills enhance children's ability to communicate positively and contribute to building healthy relationships.

Creating a safe school environment

• elmadrasah.com works to build a school environment that encourages mutual respect and appreciation of diversity.
• By promoting ethical values ​​and tolerance, the platform contributes to reducing negative behaviors that may lead to the dangers of cyberbullying.
• This environment includes guidance and counselling programmes to support students in addressing any issues related to bullying.

Providing psychological support

• elmadrasah.com provides psychological support services for children who have been bullied, providing them with the necessary counseling and psychological support to help them recover from the effects of cyberbullying.
• Children can reach out to trained mental health professionals, who can help them deal with the feelings of anxiety and depression that these experiences may cause.

Cooperation with the competent authorities

• elmadrasah.com collaborates with governmental and non-governmental organizations to combat cyberbullying.
• Through these partnerships, knowledge and resources are shared, contributing to the development of effective strategies to protect children and promote digital security in society.

elmadrasah.com plays a key role in protecting children from the dangers of cyberbullying through awareness, providing psychological support, and creating a safe school environment. By guiding students and parents and providing the necessary resources, elmadrasah.com contributes to building a cohesive community that ensures the safety of children and enhances their psychological and social health.

In conclusion, it is clear that the dangers of cyberbullying represent a serious challenge facing children in the digital age. This type of bullying causes negative psychological and social effects that affect their daily lives and academic future. Therefore, it is necessary for all of us to work together, starting with parents and schools, and reaching the community as a whole, to protect children from this phenomenon.

Parents play a pivotal role in educating their children about cyberbullying and teaching them how to deal with it, while educational institutions like Madrasa.com can help provide support and guidance. By raising awareness, creating safe learning environments, and providing the necessary resources, we can all work to reduce the risks associated with cyberbullying.

Building a bullying-free society requires a concerted effort and a genuine concern for the well-being of children. We must work together to promote positive values ​​and equip children with the skills to deal with the challenges they face in a world filled with technology. By working together, we can provide effective support to our children, contributing to their psychological and social health.