COMMENT Social media can be defined as “websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking” or in other words, something many of us can’t imagine living without.

After all, how else would we keep in touch with friends, both old and new, and efficiently maintain our social health?

Nowadays, forms of social media such as Facebook are even used to discuss homework assignments and remind others of an upcoming due date for a project.

So it can be argued that another plus point of these sites is that they keep us from failing school (on an exaggerated level)!

However, there are also the negatives trailing behind the pros - ranging from distraction to cyber bullying.

Despite the copious anti-cyber bullying lectures and posters, despite the topic being so common that students groan at the announcement of another assembly regarding this issue, the atrocity is still prominent in our society.

It was only recently in 2012 that Amanda Todd hung herself in her home due to the depression caused by cyber bullying that had been haunting her since the 7th grade.

She is one of many pre-teen/teenagers who chose to end their lives in the midst of isolation and depression, and there are many others that are still enduring the bullying today.

Peer pressure gets people cyber bullying

The question is: why do people do it? Why do people willingly bully others and cause them pain?

Isn’t one’s happiness gained by acting virtuously? Often, the answer to these questions is peer pressure, the game changer.

While peer pressure causes people to join in on the cyber bullying of a victim, it also prevents people from standing up for the victim.

Stand up for the victim and you are at the risk of being ostracised by fellow classmates.

That fear of being excluded can get so powerful, it sometimes makes one forget to empathise the person that is already facing the situation.

If asked, I would automatically say that I would never participate in the cyber bullying of someone and I would definitely defend them.

Though while I am firm in my belief that I would not join the cause, my shyness could interfere with the defending part.

Nevertheless, avoidance of public speaking is worth sacrificing to show someone you care, and maybe even save a life.

Cases of racial discrimination with labelling

Cyber bullying occurs in various contexts including race and religion.

Malaysia is no foreigner to the issue as it has also had some cases of racial discrimination with labelling.

Laws against bullying are very important as they not only prevent extreme cases of bullying and thus prevent bullying related suicides, but they also improve our safety because virtual attackers are likely to think twice before committing an action that could get them in trouble.

Social media is supposed to be a gift to our society - something that takes communication to another level and ensures that we never feel lonely.

But as time passes and cases of misuse of this gift arise, social media is sometimes the exact thing that puts people in a dark, lonely corner.

I don’t have any magic words that can brainwash students and eventually create world, well school world, peace but what I can say is that no one wants to have the death of someone on their shoulders and be clouded with regret for the rest of their lives.

Help someone now, and while that action may have current consequences, it will be the pride of your moral standing that makes you stronger.

ANUSHKA SHAH is an intern with Malaysiakini .

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