Social Media Cyber Bullying Linked to Teen Depression

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-media-cyber-bullying-linked-to-teen-
depression/
Victims tend to suffer in silence, making it difficult for parents to identify and address the
problem

Cyberbullying on social media is linked to depression in teenagers, according to new research

that analyzed multiple studies of the online phenomenon.
Victimization of young people online has received an increasing level of scrutiny, particularly
after a series of high-profile suicides of teenagers who were reportedly bullied on various social
networks. In 2013, for example, a spate of suicides was linked to the social network Ask.fm,
where users can ask each other questions anonymously. The deaths of teens who had been
subject to abuse on the site prompted Ask.fm (which was acquired by Ask.com in 2014) to
launch new safety efforts. Twitter, likewise, announced plans in April to filter out abusive tweets
and suspend bullying users.
Social media use is hugely common among teenagers, said Michele Hamm, a researcher in
pediatrics at the University of Alberta, but the health effects of cyberbullying on social media
sites is largely unknown. Regular, face-to-face bullying during the teen years may double the
risk of depression in adulthood, and bullying's effects can be as bad or worse than child abuse,
studies show.
A depressing effect
In the new review, Hamm and her colleagues combed through studies on cyberbullying and
social media, finding 36 that investigated the effects of cyberbullying on health in teens ages 12
to 18. Although the studies examined different health outcomes and sometimes defined
cyberbullying differently, one finding stood out.
"There were consistent associations between exposure to cyberbullying and increased
likelihood of depression," Hamm told Live Science. [8 Tips for Parents of Teens with Depression]
The studies covered a variety of social sites, but Facebook was the most commonbetween 89
percent and 97.5 percent of the teens who used social media had a Facebook account.
Seventeen of the 36 studies analyzed looked at how common cyberbullying was, and the
researchers found that a median of 23 percent of teens reporting being targeted. About 15
percent reported bullying someone online themselves.
Two studies examined the prevalence of so-called "bully-victims," meaning teens who both bully
others and are bullied. Research on offline bullying shows these kids to be most at-risk for
mental health problems. One study found that 5.4 percent of teens were bully-victims, while the
other reported a prevalence of 11.2 percent.
Safe social media
Despite the well-publicized suicide cases linked to cyberbullying in news reports, Hamm and her
colleagues did not find consistent links between being bullied and self-harm across the studies.
Nor did they see a consistent link between cyberbullying and anxiety. Some studies found
evidence for these links, and others did not.
However, Hamm cautioned, the findings don't mean these links don't exist. The 36 studies used
a variety of definitions and health outcomes, and not enough work has been done to confirm or
rule out connections between cyberbullying and anxiety or self-harm.
But cyberbullying and depression went hand-in-hand, the researchers report today (June 22) in
the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Ten studies examined the link between social media victimization
and depression, and all of them found a connection.
Alone, these studies can't prove that the bullying caused the depression it's possible that
depressed teens are more likely to become targets of bullying than their healthier peers.
However, Hamm said, one of the 10 studies did follow the teens over time and found that the
cyberbullying preceded the teens' depression, hinting at a causal relationship. The research
also found that the more cyberbullying a teen experienced, the more severe his or her
symptoms of depression.
Alarmingly, teens typically suffered cyberbullying in silence. "Kids really are hesitant to tell
anyone when cyberbullying occurs," Hamm said. "There seems to be a common fear that if they
tell their parents, for example, they'll lose their Internet access."
Therefore, it's important for parents to respond carefully if their kids are being bullied online, and
to teach teens safe Internet use rather than cutting off permission to use the Web, she said.
"Parents need to address that this is happening and that the Internet and social media is here,"
Hamm said. "It's an important part of their kids' lives. But it needs to be a whole team
approach."
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 What is the article's background and purpose?

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic

technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and
tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages,
chat, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails,
rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures,
videos, websites, or fake profiles. Cell phones and computers themselves are not to
blame for cyberbullying. Social media sites can be used for positive activities, like
connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school, and for
entertainment. But these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in
person or through technology, the effects of bullying are similar. The purpose of this
article is to give awareness to teens who are facing the same situation and to the
parents who doesnt know how to communicate with their kids. The parents should
know the signs that their child may be a victim of cyberbullying and what they can do to
help the situation. Its time to give importance and attention to the signs and symptoms
of cyberbullying, because this is some serious case. If not being taken care of, it may
lead to self-harm, anxiety, and depression. These emotions can lead to suicide and
other causes of death.

What is the main idea (the main argument) that the article is
communicating?

That there is a certain connection between social media victimization and depression.
The study finds that the more cyberbullying a teen experienced, the more severe his or
her symptoms of depression.

Evaluate:

How convincing is the argument?

The argument is convincing, yet it is predictable. Yes, there are many reasons why a
child is depressed, but its not shocking to say that cyberbullying is one of the reasons,
because of the fact that we all know what cyberbullying can do to a person especially
for a teen or a kid. But this argument is quite alarming. It is a topic that many parents
 wouldnt notice to their kids. Especially now that we have learned that these people
typically suffers cyberbullying in silence.

How useful or applicable is the article?

This article is very useful and applicable when it comes to relaying the message to the
parents and to the kids who face the same situation. It is communicating to the parents
that they need to address that this is happening and that the Internet and social media
is here. It's an important part of their kids' lives. But it needs to be a whole team
approach.

Respond:

What is your assessment of the article?

The article does help a lot of people in the society, because based on my understanding
a lot of teens and kids have been facing depression, most likely are afraid of telling their
parents and tend to face it by themselves. Social media is already a part of their lives,
and to think that it doesnt just bring negativities, but also it brings advantages which
includes the help for their projects and or it helps them to reach out for their friends and
people whom they call family. So we cant deny the fact that we cant just say to these
kids to stop using social media. So parents need to address their kids that this is
happening and therefore, it's important for parents to respond carefully if their kids are
being bullied online, and to teach teens safe Internet use rather than cutting off
permission to use the Web.

What issues does it raise?

The issues it raises are cyberbullying on social media is linked to depression in

teenagers, the victimization of young people online has received an increasing level of
scrutiny, particularly after a series of high-profile suicides of teenagers who were
reportedly bullied on various social networks and teens typically suffered cyberbullying
in silence.

What issues does it avoid?