Explained: What Is Cyberbullying And How To Protect Yourself This 'Safer Internet Day'

The internet changed humanity forever, bringing us closer to knowledge that remained previously inaccessible. However, with the advent of social media and its dangerous world of "likes," the risk factors associated with being "online" went up.

Every year, February 7 is celebrated as Safer Internet Day to bring attention to cyberbullying and other issues surrounding the world wide web, including the increasing threats of profiling and more.

Safer Internet Day began as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004, and since then its has grown to be celebrated in approximately 180 countries around the world. Last year, a report by McAfee stated that 85% Indian kids have experienced cyberbullying - the highest in the world and twice the international average.

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What is cyberbullying?

Anything from an unsolicited inappropriate message to threats of violence and harm can constitute cyberbullying. Essentially, if one's digital safety is compromised with potential dangers in the physical world, one could be a victim of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is usually associated with well-known social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok but is not limited to the same. Rampant cyberbullying can exist on gaming platforms and portals as well.

Also read: 85% Of Indian Kids Have Experienced Cyberbullying, Pandemic Made It Worse, Says Report

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Spreading lies about someone or posting their personal images without consent is cyberbullying, so is sending abusive or threatening messages to someone on social media. Impersonation, too qualifies as cyberbullying. Many times, face-to-face bullying goes hand-in-hand with cyberbullying, especially in social set ups that cater to kids, be it schools or hostels.

If you're getting negative attention that makes you uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, it's cyberbullying, especially if you've made your stance clear on the negative nature of this attention.

The dangers of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying usually includes dangerous racist, misogynistic, and homophobic rhetoric that can have a myriad of negative effects on the victim. A victim can experience mental, emotional, and physical issues after being cyberbullied.

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There's a saying that goes "internet is forever" and that kind of digital permanence can add to the recurrent feeling of being bullied. For many, cyberbullying can completely take over their loves, pushing them to take extreme steps.

Also read: AI Can Detect Cyberbullying On Twitter With 90% Accuracy, Help Reduce Online Toxic Behaviour

To end this cycle of cyberbullying, it's ideal to seek help from someone you trust - be it a family member or a qualified professional. Social media companies also have constantly-evolving rules about harassment and bullying, and in most cases, you can report your bullies and get them to delete the offensive content. After repeated strikes, such bullies are usually suspended from the platform.

(More information on anti-bullying measures by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.)

Staying safe online

While going off social media only gives more power to the bully, one can follow certain self-imposed restrictions to ensure that your personal safety is not compromised online.

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For starters, lock your account. Only give access to people you trust; this way only your friends and family can interact with you, keeping your content safe from bullies.

Also read: Japan Makes 'Online Insults' Punishable By Law To Curb Cyber Bullying: Here's Why

It's very important to never reveal your personal details like your address, your phone number, or where you go to school. In case you have let someone in by mistake, don't worry about the pressure of "unfollowing" someone. Just do it! You can also straight up block those who threaten your peace of mind and safety.

In case that's not possible, there are multiple features that allow users to completely hide their content from certain people without informing them. This way, they stay on your account but lose access to everything else.

Reporting a cyber crime

Indian government's National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is one way to report complaints online. Reports may be filed for virtually any kind of crime - sharing child pornography, sexually explicit content, financial frauds, ransomware, hacking, cyber trafficking, and even cryptocurrency-related crimes.

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For sexually abusive material pertaining to minors and crimes, a complaint may be made anonymously. Even then, the Indian Penal Code, 1860 does not recognise bullying (and by extension cyberbullying) a crime that is punishable. However, various laws may be applied to make a case against cyberbullying - including Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 that deals with the transfer of offensive messages through communication services and more.

Also read: Explained: Indian Laws That Deal With Online Bullying Of Women

But these laws still leave room for concrete legislation on cyberbullying. For instance, Japan has a law that states online insults constitute a crime punishable by law. India now needs to enact a law focused on the dangerous forms of cyberbullying that take place on social media to protect kids, who are the highest risk of online bullying

Do you think cyberbullying needs more legal recognition to protect kids? Share your stories with us in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, you may reach out to the following hotline numbers: iCALL (+91 9152987821), Jeevan Aastha Helpline (1800 233 330), Connecting NGO, Help Save A Life (+91 9922004305). You may also report instances of cyberbullying on the government hotline number 112.