Cyberbullying is so not cool, and it can kill. A U-report poll in 2019 revealed that 3 in 10 young people in Malaysia have been victims of cyberbullying, with 43% experiencing it through online games and private messaging apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Twitter. The rise in online hate speech has serious consequences, sometimes pushing people to take their lives. Stand up, speak out against cyberbullying, and help make the online world a safer place.
To help you stay safe and sane online, here are 10 tips to prevent yourself or your friends from becoming victims of cyberbullying. And remember, bystanders have power too!
1. Protect your accounts.
Never share your passwords with anyone – even your BFF or partner, no matter how kam cheng you are now. Don’t cincai with your password safety. Always password-protect your phone so no one can use it to impersonate you.
2. Use privacy settings.
Think about who sees what you post online. BFF? Friends? Friends of friends? Strangers? Privacy settings let you control who sees what and can prevent cyberbullying. Make sure you turn it on and be in control.
3. Think before you share/post.
Be careful about what you share or say on social media or chat apps. You never know what someone will forward. Your post/message may be used for gossip to kena you.
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4. Don’t add to the nastiness.
Watching or forwarding mean messages only gives power to the bullies and hurts victims even more. At the very least, help by not passing along a mean message and not cheering the bullying that is taking place – either online or offline. Stand up, speak out against cyberbullying, and refuse to be a part of the problem.
5. Save the evidence.
Evidence is sangat penting so that action can be taken. The only good news about cyberbullying is that you can screenshot and save the nasty, mean, and harassing messages to show someone who can help. Do this even if it’s minor stuff, just in case things get bad and you need to make a report.
6. Block the bully.
If the meanness is coming in the form of chat or instant messages, texts, or social media profile comments, do yourself a favor: block the bully. If it’s in chat, leave the “room.” Don’t stay and stress lah.
7. Tell the bully to stop.
If you know the bully or if the bully is your friend, tell them to stop. Let them know that their nastiness only makes them look like a bodoh with a hodoh heart. Make them understand that their bullying behavior is so not cool and totally unacceptable. Stand up, speak out against cyberbullying, and make your voice heard.
8. Report the nastiness.
You can also report the problem to the social media service provider. That may not end it, but you don’t need the harassment in your face, and you’ll be less tempted to respond. Here are some links:
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
X (Twitter)
WhatsApp
YouTube
9. Start chapter baru.
If you’ve reached a high level of fedupness with all the meanness, you can choose to deactivate your account and start fresh while taking better security measures. Or delete the affected account(s) and stay offline (from that particular platform) for a couple of months.
10. Stand up, speak out against cyberbullying.
Bystanders have power. Use it to help, not hurt. If you see someone being bullied, tell the bully to stop. Let them know it’s not funny and it’s not cool. Reach out to the victim and let them know they are not alone. Report the bullying using the tools on social media platforms. Educate yourself and others about the effects of cyberbullying and share that knowledge with your friends. Your actions can make a big difference.
Get help.
If you’re threatened with physical harm, tell a loved one – parents, siblings, BFF – so they can support you in getting help. You will need to share evidence (videos, images, conversation snapshots, etc.) of the harassment.
- Make a police report. Call 999
- Consult the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Complaint Bureau through email (aduanskmm@cmc.gov.my), telephone (1800 188 030)
- Call the 24-hour Talian Kasih hotline 15999 / WA 019 261 5999
If you’re feeling confused, stressed, helpless, and anxious, don’t bear it alone. Seek help and find someone you trust to talk to. For emotional support, you can call the Befrienders KL at 03-7957 1306, 04-281 5161/1108 in Penang, 05-5477 933/955 in Ipoh, or email sam@befrienders.org.my. Befrienders are multiracial, non-religious, and available to everyone, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation. You may remain completely anonymous, keeping your name private.
Remember – you don’t need to put up with being bullied, online or offline. Stand up, speak out against cyberbullying, and help create a safer internet for everyone.
Pssst. If you have any other tips, please share in the comments below.
Originally Published: 9 September 2019.
