Cyberbullying is a dark beast that can happen anywhere.

Your email, your texts, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok.

And in the loneliness of your own mind, it may seem even more frightening than any real-world meeting. You’ve heard the horror stories, and maybe you’ve know a few yourself all too well.

From hacking to the wrong photos, to nightmares of texts, all of this can and might happen to you. You’re young, strong, and ready to understand the digital world. Yet you might find this handful of words about cyberbullying interesting.

Cyberbullying differs from bullying in normal life.

• First, it can happen anywhere, and at any time.

• This can be scary.

• Also, it can make the bully difficult to identify.

• There is also the problem of it happening by accident.

• You might send a text or a negative joke that sounds funny to you on the phone.

• And then you find it was taken in a different way!

• This could be because of no face-to-face contact.

• It is harder to communicate without being in the presence of someone.

Hacking is an issue. If your account is hacked and someone is using your name to insult others, this should be raised with the police and a trusted adult. It is doubtful that you want such things to affect your reputation.

If you are being cyberbullied, record the texts and messages. This will help you bring the issue to a legal authority or a trusted adult. It will also help your perspective. Consider your own activity as well and whether this might have prompted the response. After all, it is a dialogue.

It is a scary digital world out there that sometimes reminds you of a horror film.

Technology can make life more fun and more efficient.

Use it well and avoid the negative things.