Bullying comes in four major ways, according to the National Center Against Bullying. Physical bullying is what many think of: the "give-me-your-lunch-money" playground tough guy. Verbal bullying is harassment through threats, name calling or other derogatory remarks. Cyberbullying is becoming more and more prevalent with the advent of smartphones and can occur 24 hours a day as long as the bully has the victim’s information. Covert bullying usually begins later in elementary school and continues all the way through high school. Gossip, rumors and pranks are some of the ways teenagers tend to humiliate each other.
Bullying is more prevalent than people might think. According to the Ambassadors 4 Kids Club (A4KC), 30 percent of students in grades 6 to 10 admitted to being involved in moderate to frequent bullying. While most bullying occurs in person, almost a quarter of reported bullying incidents happen online. Because of children’s access to the infinite potential of the Internet, some unfortunately will use the technology to harm others incessantly. The A4KC also reports that, over a year's time, more than 75,000 children's lives are disrupted by the negative effects of bullying.
The effects of bullying are much more detrimental than anyone could imagine. Relentless and ongoing verbal and physical abuse can lead to depression and anxiety that ultimately will cause personality shifts in otherwise happy individuals. Victims of bullying often show a decrease in academic performance and a withdrawal from social hobbies such as Little League or Boy Scouts. Bullying also is one of many causes related to school violence and teen suicide and is not to be taken lightly. The negative effects bullies have on their victims may, unfortunately, last a lifetime.
There are many ways all parties involved can combat bullying with the hopes that a life can be saved through positive actions. Victims of bullying should feel comfortable going to any adult working within a school to see that they no longer are harassed. Too often, the victim’s complaints are downplayed, and the negative behavior continues. Bystanders, too, can help a peer out of a bad situation by intervening. A witness to bullying will help others take the complaint more seriously. Finally, adults must remember that even the bully is still a child, and there must be some reason he is lashing out. School officials, parents and adults in general have a responsibility to make sure both parties are no longer in danger.