Kindness for Ojibwe Youth

What Is Bullying and Cyberbullying?

Bullying is intentional, unwanted aggressive behavior against another individual. To be considered bullying, it must happen repeatedly or have the potential to happen repeatedly, and it must involve a real or perceived power imbalance. Types of bullying include:

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs over devices and on digital spaces like social media platforms and apps. Cyberbullying is distinct in that it is persistent and more difficult to recognize. It can also damage the reputation of everyone involved, potentially endanger those targeted by cyberbullying, and cross into unlawful or criminal behavior.

How Can I Recognize Bullying and Cyberbullying?

It can be helpful to identify common behaviors and tactics that are used to recognize bullying and cyberbullying when it happens.

Common Bullying Tactics Include:

Common Cyberbullying Tactics Include:

Bullying Affects Everyone

Bullying and cyberbullying doesn’t just affect the individual being bullied – it negatively affects everyone involved, including you.

Native youth who are bullied generally show higher levels of insecurity, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and unhappiness, as well as other physical, emotional, and mental health symptoms.

Native youth who witness bullying are more likely to have increased tobacco, alcohol, or other drug use; mental health problems; and school absences.

Native youth who bully tend to abuse alcohol and other drugs, get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. They are likely to engage in early sexual activity, have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults, and abuse others at higher rates as adults.

It is important to note that an individual can be in more than one role. For example, a youth that is bullied by peers at school could bully a younger sibling at home or a youth online, and youth who are witnessing bullying may either join in with the bully or become a target for bullying.

Bullying Has A Lasting Effect On Mental Health

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of bullying victims develop social anxiety
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of bullying victims develop depression
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of bullying victims develop suicidal thoughts
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of bullying victims self-harmed
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of bullying victims skipped class
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of bullying victims developed anti-social disorders
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of bullying victims developed an eating disorder
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of bullying victims run away from home
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of bullying victims abuse alcohol and/or other drugs

Cyberbullying Hurts In Real Life

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of cyberbullying victims develop social anxiety
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of cyberbullying victims develop depression
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of cyberbullying victims develop suicidal thoughts
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of cyberbullying victims deleted their social media profile
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of cyberbullying victims self-harmed
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of cyberbullying victims stopped using social media