Image looking over the shoulder of a girl who is on her mobile.
No one wants to think of themselves as a bully but the fact is, that might be the case. 
If you have been engaging in online or offline behaviour that has upset or hurt another young person, it’s important to acknowledge what you’ve done and make amends as soon as you can.   However, it’s also necessary to find out why you said or did the things you did. There might be an underlying issue that you haven’t dealt with that you need to talk about.

Here are some reasons why young people bully others online:

 

Jealousy

They see a peer’s seemingly perfect life and want to do something to ruin it because ‘why should they have everything?’

Likes, Follows, Praise

If an impressionable child gets validation for making a mean comment, it’s very easy to get addicted to the high.

Feeling Powerless

If a young person is feeling helpless or overwhelmed in one area of their life, having power over someone online can fill that void. 

Anger Issues

Someone with anger or frustration issues might see venting online as a way of expressing their feelings without having to deal with the consequences in real life.

Unhappiness

Misery loves company so if a child is unhappy, it’s not unusual to think that they might take their unhappiness out on others. 

Outside Influences

Depending on who someone looks up to, they might see that person gaining popularity for being mean or ‘real’ about issues and use it as a model for building their own profile. 

Anonymity

Some bullies are just bored and looking for ways to stir up trouble. They think because they can create an anonymous profile that there are no consequences for them.

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