Put An End To Cyber Bullying
On more than one occasion, I have taken to this blog to criticise how the misuse of social media can have a negative impact on our mental health. I am glad to see that the Secretary of State for Health is beginning take this seriously too. He has recently met with social media giants like Facebook and Twitter to demand action and accountability.
This is, of course, a very positive step. However, until and unless people are encouraged in whatever way appropriate for them to take responsibility for their actions, dealing with the companies alone will not end this cycle of bullying and abuse. In many ways, people seem to think that they are invulnerable behind the keyboard and can therefore say anything they like without fear of retribution. This culture must come to an end.
As a psychotherapist, I spend a good part of my professional day trying to help people to learn to take responsibility for their actions and to understand how their actions can have an impact on others. Whilst we all have angst, it is important, especially for the young, to realise that there are appropriate ways and inappropriate ways to vent this. Bullying, whether cyber or otherwise, has no place in our society and we should use education as the best possible tool to bring it to a swift end.
