In today’s society, the mass majority of teens in the United States have access to the internet, whether it’s through a smartphone or computer. Technology has the potential to be a wonderful tool for communicating and learning, but it also is capable of being used to bully and put down others. The effects of cyberbullying on teen girls can be truly harmful and affect how she continues to develop.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of electronic technology. This includes everything from cellphones to social media websites. Cyberbullying has grown with the development and spread of the internet and mobile technology, such as cellphones. Bullying has gone from mostly happening in school to being able to occur at any time of any day. It can be as simple as just sending a hateful text.
The Effects of Cyberbullying
In a recent survey, it was found that 1 in 3 adolescent girls had been cyber-bullied in some way. It was established in a different study that girls were more likely than boys to be targeted in cyberbullying. The effects of cyberbullying vary depending on the frequency of the bullying, but teens who are cyber-bullied are more likely to:
- Abuse alcohol and drugs
- Skip classes
- Perform poorly in school
- Have low self-esteem
- Develop more health issues
- Become depressed
- Develop anxiety
How to Help
Parents can help limit their child’s exposure to cyberbullying by being aware of what they do online and establishing guidelines about technology use. For more serious cases, such as depression, this may not be enough. There are many therapeutic options available to help your child with the effects of cyberbullying.
Asheville Academy focuses on helping struggling girls overcome their obstacles through comprehensive treatment. We work to build girl’s self-esteems and develop the right habits to lead them to the healthy lives they deserve.
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