School Culture of Bullying
Is bullying or insulting one another in schools becoming more common in 2023? With the growth of a new culture and the rise of social media being introduced amongst children and teens, there has been an increase in disrespect, the use of racist jokes, and profanity toward their peers. This is classified as bullying.
In school settings, students are becoming comfortable insulting their close friends, either verbally or physically. This is becoming a trend and cycle throughout the grade levels, also viewed as a routine part of social interactions. Furthermore, when the rate of insults rises daily, it becomes normalized, and over time, the situation becomes humorous or taken as a joke instead.
In the age of social media, a new type of bullying is being introduced, referred to as cyberbullying. 95% of teens in the U.S. are online, making it a common medium for bullying. Additionally, with apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and so on, students are becoming more exposed to victimization.
Students may be at home and still face bullying because of social media. For example, photos and videos may be taken without one's consent at school and uploaded to social media. The victim may be unaware or become embarrassed about the situation.
It’s difficult to cope with the experience of bullying and as result, victims may even resort to suicide or self-harm. As well as becoming depressed, isolated, or dealing with anxiety. Students who deal with bullying may also be afraid to return to school grounds, because of the impact it had on their self-esteem and confidence. Likewise, victims may change in daily mood or behavior, lack interest in everyday hobbies, and have a negative influence on their school grades.