Melksham residents from all generations are encouraging each other to ‘be kind online’ when using social media.
The occurrence of online bullying or ‘cyberbullying’ has increased in frequency alongside the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and according to statistics provided by YouGov, one in four British adults over the age of 18 has experienced some form of cyberbullying.
The most common form of cyberbullying is reported to be harassment, when a person sends abusive or hateful messages.
And cyberbullying remains a problem for the younger generation, with anti-bullying charity, Ditch the Label, reporting that one in four young people has experienced cyberbullying, and that one in four young people have anticipatory anxiety about being abused online.
In an effort to raise awareness of the effects of cyberbullying some Melksham residents have shared their own experiences
Leader of Melksham Town Council, cllr Vanessa Fiorelli told Melksham News, “Social media platforms such as Facebook have given bullies a new forum in which to persistently taunt their victims. While the landscape may be different to the school yard, the effects can be similar and often worse than those resulting from personal interactions. Like many people, I have been a victim of online bullying – from people I know, to those who don’t even know me.
“I’ve been told by some of my bullies that ‘I should expect that kind of treatment because I’m a town councillor’. Since when is it ok for someone to ‘expect’ to be bullied?
“The height of the bullying came last October during the Bowerhill by-election. I was personally targeted online (via the Sham Shout Outs) with some very derogatory comments made about my character. It was clear cut bullying, and even defamatory. The comments were viewed by my friends and family and were serious enough for the police to place a patrol at the front of my property to protect my family.
“The most disappointing aspect of the bullying I have (and continue) to experience is that it at the hands of other adults. Adults that should know better – and they do, they simply choose to hide behind a faceless platform. They deliberately disregard any hurt they may cause, they simply just don’t care. This needs to stop. There is no excuse for acting so badly towards one another. It’s time we become better role models for our children and grandchildren.”
Members of Young Melksham, the local charity that runs clubs and additional services for the town’s youth, aged between 11 and 13, were asked how they felt about cyberbullying.
They said, “It’s mean and makes people want to commit suicide. It’s bad. It’s horrible. You shouldn’t do it!”
“It is a mean thing because you are being horrible to someone and you can’t see how they are feeling through the phone, and people take stuff differently.”
“It is mean and bad to online bully because you hurt people’s feelings and they can then tell someone and you can get into a lot of trouble for it.”
“It’s not nice, and I think it should stop now! People shouldn’t do it. It’s mean and not nice, because it makes people sad!”
Asked why we should be kind to others online, the Young Melksham members’ comments included; “They might be going through something at home.”
“As some people take things differently and will get sad over it.”
“Because people should just be people, and I think there are too many online bullies, and most of it is for no reason.”
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