Now, when you were younger, you heard the term “cyberbullying” in classrooms and your parents may have warned you to be careful “out there” on the Internet.

A lot of the material out there that deals with this issue and seeks to help young people avoid dangers online is outdated and frankly, out of touch.

You’re currently swamped in a world of TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram… you are not living in the world of MySpace or ask.fm where people might have sent “rude” messages. So you think, I might just ignore that old advice.

Of course, bullying is still out there. But as you know, it’s subtle, and hard to explain to parents who have little experience with your phone.

The first thing to think about is: is the content I am watching on TikTok and Instagram Reels really true or accurate?

• There’s a lot of political and scientific content out there.
• These days, people go to YouTube when they want an answer to a question; once, they went to libraries.
• So, it’s important to be careful.
• Everyone around you will cite facts from TikTok because it’s what everyone’s watching.
• But remember that a lot of content these days can be faked, and it is entirely possible that what you’re consuming is completely false! It’s true.
• Think about how easily your friends can edit their own Instagram photos.
• There are companies and users out there who have extraordinary powers to manipulate photos and videos with technology.
• We want to hear your view on the world, on politics, on change, on LIFE… but we want to make sure those views are based on solid information.
• Approach what’s out there with a healthy doubt.

The second thing, of course, is bullying.

• It’s that age old thing that’s still out there!
• Once it happened on the playground.
• Now, you’re blocked, or your “friends” won’t like your photos.
• Or even worse, a screenshot of something you’ve done turns up in a group chat somewhere you’d rather not.
• How hard is that to explain and admit to your parents?
• You feel like you’re truly alone if you ever feel really uncomfortable.

Remember- you’re dealing with systems that no one ever in the human race except your generation right now has had to deal with.

These are new and unnatural to us! Apps like Facebook, designed to make your life so much easier, can actually make it so much harder by making communication unclear and allowing secrets and conversations to spread.

Once those talks would have happened face to face, in a place you trust.

So just remember, you’re not alone!

And you’re dealing with a special challenge in a new time on this earth.

Educate yourself on how to use these things in a way that suits you.

And don’t let yourself become a slave to those apps.

Look at you - you’re better than that!