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Cyberbullying study: Females most likely to be victims

The Family Development Foundation in Abu Dhabi confirmed that many distinguishing signs and changes in behavior, whether positive or negative, appeared with the widespread use of social media among all societal segments. What has recently attracted attention is the spread of a negative phenomenon that was only mildly prevalent before the advent of the digital age. However, it has become shockingly more common with the development of these digital platforms that women are more susceptible to cyberbullying than men. “Many studies indicate a high prevalence of cyberbullying, according to the gender variable in favor of females, and this is due to several reasons, including nature of female psychology, the societal view of females, and the fear of responding firmly to the bully, and some females are reluctant to disclose these matters for fear of parents and the view of society, which may push the bully to continue his bullying behavior, unlike males who may face these behaviors alone or with the help of companions or parents in some cases,” Wafaa Muhammad Al Ali, Director of the Family Counseling and Counseling Department at the Family Development Foundation told Gulf Today. Text messages, apps, social networking sites, video games, particularly those with chat rooms, and many other places are examples of where this kind of abuse can be seen. She emphasized that there are treatments available, such as stepping up specialized awareness programs in universities and classrooms and involving families in these campaigns to maximize their impact and lessen such phenomena. Additionally, there should be a growing understanding among parents and educators of the scope of the threats associated with digital gadgets that could affect the next generation as well as their psychological effects. It is also crucial to inform young people about the dangers and effects of cyberbullying, including the publication of offensive material, the dissemination of hate speech, and other behaviors that could result in legal consequences. KD/Expat Media
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