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We can never underestimate the impact of cyber-bullying on young people.  The feelings of isolation, humiliation and loneliness can be intense and overwhelming.

Some of the common feelings and emotions a young person may experience are:

Humiliation.

When cyber-bullying occurs, information that is false, unkind, and hurtful can be shared with many people through posts, messages, or texts.  The number of people who know about what is happening to a young person can lead them to experience intense feelings of humiliation and being overwhelmed.

Isolation

Cyber-bullying causes a young person to feel excluded and isolated.  This is particularly painful because during adolescence, friendships and being included are so important to a young person. 

When young people doesn’t have friends and is isolated they are more at risk of being bullied.  Strong friendships help counteract bullying behaviour from others.

Anger

Many young people who experience cyber-bullying will feel angry.  Anger can be healthy because it lets us know something wrong is occurring.  Anger becomes unhealthy when we are constantly angry and want revenge.  Wanting and thinking about revenge keeps us locked into the bully-victim cycle.

Depression and Anxiety

The stress of coping with cyber-bullying can leave us feeling unhappy and increase feelings of worry, anxiety, and depression. 

Low self-esteem

Cyber-bullying often targets us where we are feeling most vulnerable.  This leaves us doubting our worth and we can begin to struggle with low self-esteem.

Young people are increasingly standing up to on-line harassment and cyber-bullying and calling it out.

But there is still more work to be done in building young people’s resolve to stand together and #stop cyber-bullying.

Joining the #Stop campaign is one way to demonstrate solidarity and build a community of young people that stand together to #stop cyber-bullying.