Cyberbullying: How to stay safe online

By: Kayna Johari

“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.” – Erik Qualman

Cyberbullying has become one of the biggest challenges of our generation. For many of us, social media is where we laugh at memes, stay updated on trends, and connect with friends after a long school day. But as fun as it is, the same platforms can also become places where hurtful words, fake accounts, and online shaming take over. Imagine having your article featured online, read by students, teachers, parents, and even future employers. Would you want the comments section filled with kind words or with insults that stay there forever? That’s the reality of the digital world.

I still remember the first time I heard about cyberbullying. A classmate shared how anonymous comments on one of her posts made her feel unsafe to even open her phone. What struck me most was that the bullying didn’t stop when she left school. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying follows you everywhere, right into the safety of your own room. It’s like a shadow that lingers, and unless you take action, it only grows darker.

The tricky part is that almost every teenager today is on social media. Some parents believe the solution is to keep their children completely away from it, but that can be just as damaging. Social media is not just for entertainment anymore. It’s where opportunities are found, where communities grow, and even where careers begin. Cutting kids off completely can feel like cutting them out of their generation’s way of communicating. Instead of blocking them entirely, parents can use the parental controls provided in most apps. These settings let them limit screen time, block harmful content, and keep an eye on interactions. That way, teens are still connected, but within a safer space.

Staying safe online doesn’t mean we should stop posting or delete all our accounts. It means learning to protect ourselves and each other. Simple steps like not sharing personal details, reporting fake accounts, and not responding to hate can make a huge difference. Sometimes, even just reaching out to a friend who is being targeted can change how they feel.

In the end, the internet is like a giant stage. The spotlight can either lift you up or expose you to cruelty. We can’t control every comment or every troll, but we can control how we respond, how much we share, and how kind we are to others online. If we treat our online world the same way we’d want our real world to be, safe, respectful, and supportive. Then cyberbullying loses its power.