Editor’s note: Letter writer Ezmariah Poppino, a student at Centralia High School and Centralia College, is an aspiring professional artist. This letter is among several submitted by students as part of an assignment.
In recent discussions regarding social media, a rise in controversy has come to surface. On one hand, some argue that it’s the bright future of the world, and that it’s a good source of educational information. On the other hand, some argue that it’s too informational, and dangerously influencing youth.
This makes mainstream debate whether or not the internet is good for kids and teens. With that in mind, I believe it’s good to a certain extent. Both sides have justified and questionable views. Overall, cyberbullying is far too important to put off for one side or the other.
As such, it is important to understand why it’s important. Cyberbullying is identified and classified as a person online who is sending or posting malicious content of intimidating or mocking nature. About 58% of teens say someone has cyberbullied them or someone else. The impacts of cyberbullying are very similar to the impacts of bullying in person, quadrupling the likeliness of suicidal ideation and attempts — except, with cyberbullying, there is little to no escape. While school typically ends at 3 p.m., the internet is accessible anytime.
The impact cyberbullying had on me was life altering. I was the most bullied kid at my previous high school for being the openly queer kid. Unsolicited photos and videos were taken of me and posted on Snapchat and TikTok, and whispers echoed my name for every little thing I did that was considered even a little odd. It taught me to feel small, and I tried to make myself as invisible and unnoticeable as possible.
While these experiences were unruly, with them I can now use my insight for good.
With the internet being so incorporated in our society today, cyberbullying is as good as “real” bullying, and bullying is a real issue. There is no ignoring it, no going around it, no avoiding it. There is only desensitization, and there’s been too much. I am sure some of you have heard the phrase from parents, or grandparents, “it’s those damn phones,” and it is. Had the internet been a controlled environment, and not been so unlimited (akin to the access to them), the misbehavior on it in schools would not be so.
When it comes to the internet’s cyberbullying problem, they say, “it is just the way it is,” and I say that’s garbage. That phrase has been a speed-dial excuse for generations. It’s a lousy, dismissing response to anything proving to be difficult to change. There are many ways to improve the misuse of social media. One small step you can take is reporting the posts and/or messages. It is important that these things are addressed appropriately. The second step is for yourself. Take a step back. The internet can be very addicting, time consuming and mentally exhausting. It is never too late to improve.
Ezmariah Poppino
Centralia
