Empowering Students: Navigating Cyberbullying Together
Anime girl in sweater tapping on cellphone, gray background. In today's digital age, students are not exploring an uncharted digital world. No, they're digital natives born into the technology they wield on their phones. They make TikToks, send Snapchats, and post carefully curated pics on Instagram ( trust me, they take ages to make their feed look effortless and carefree ). But while it's not an uncharted world, it is an overwhelming one. And in this ever-evolving digital landscape, cyberbullying is a very real concern. As aspiring school librarians, I believe we have the means to guide students through these challenges. One concerning aspect highlighted in this week's articles is the underreporting of cyberbullying due to fear and normalization. Despite their familiarity with digital platforms, many students struggle to handle negative attention online. Faucher et al (2015) emphasize the fear of retaliation, which often silences victims. This fear perpetuates the