Villieria police visit schools to discuss cyber-bullying and dangers of substance abuse
"teenagers nowadays are not only being exposed to “traditional” bullying in real-life, but also cyber-bullying with the advent of social media."
Officers from the Villieria police station recently visited HTS John Vorster and Hoërskool Oos-Moot to spread awareness of cyber-bullying and substance abuse.
“All the learners attended and issues such as cyber-bullying and the illegal use of dagga were explained to them,” said the station’s social prevention coordinator and spokesperson Warrant Officer Marinda Austin.
“They were given a chance to raise questions and they responded positively to the importance of the discussed matters.”
Austin said teenagers nowadays are not only being exposed to “traditional” bullying in real-life, but also cyber-bullying with the advent of social media.
“The effects of bullying are varied and can harm the victim’s emotional well-being, self-esteem, reputation and, in some cases, their bodies.”
Villieria station commander Colonel Silas Thoka thanked everybody who was part of these visits.
“We hope our learners learned something from our visit and keep it in mind when they are confronted by cyber-bullying and the use of illegal substances,” he said.
Below are some tips to help your teen cope:
– It’s not their fault: Most bullies pick on others because they are often unhappy with themselves, and are trying to hide their own fears and insecurities. You should remember being bullied is not your fault, nor is there something wrong with you as a person.
– Tell someone: If you are getting bullied, you should confide in a trusted adult. Sharing will help you feel less alone and scared; an adult can help you to report the bullying.
– Keep a record: If someone is cyber-bullying you, you should take screenshots and keep them in a safe place. This will come in handy if you want to report the bullying.
– Don’t respond or retaliate: It’s tempting to want to respond, but the best thing is not to. Bullies often want a reaction from their victims and it will leave them deflated if they don’t get any.
– Block the bullies: There’s no shame in blocking anyone on social media or WhatsApp if they are sending hurtful messages.
– Report the bullies: All social media sites have policies against abuse and victims can report abusive accounts directly to the sites.
– Stay off anonymous sites: Teenagers should stay away from anonymous websites. It’s a paradise for bullies because they can hide.
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