Cyberbullying in the 21st Century: A Rising Threat to Youth in Digital Age

Abstract

In the modern time, where anything can be accessed with a single click, social media has become more and more important in today’s environment. The Internet has had a significant influence on everyone’s life, and it goes without saying that young people make up the majority of internet users. The youth of the present time are living a digital life with the internet technology. It provides various comforts to its users. No doubt internet technology has provided us lot of benefits; however, it also operates as a breeding environment for certain undesirable behaviours, one example of such undesirable behaviour is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the misuse of technology with the intention to harass and harm others. Due to the fact that it is a common problem among youngster and has more harmful effects than expected. It has many negative consequences on its victims such as stress, anxiety, social dissatisfaction, negative school attitude and in some cases substances abuse, depression, physical harm, mental strain and in extreme cases suicide also. That is the reasons why it is treated as the disease in the 21st century. The tragic events and increased incidence of this new kind of bullying have therefore made researchers, educators, government officials, and parents aware of its severe ramifications. The main aim of this paper is to highlight cyberbullying and its expected consequences on the youngsters in the present digital age.