Online Bullying – 10 Ways To Deal With Online Bullying As An Entrepreneur

Like other aspects of our life, bullying has evolved into a broader perspective and into the online space; online bullying.

In most of the cases we know, bullying is typically any discriminatory, threatening, intimidating or even physically abusive behavior by one party to another, usually exerted with force and described as aggressive conduct.

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You are probably tempted to ask how this seemingly physical act could be translated into our virtual spaces on the internet; the fact is that bullying develops and thrives in any setting in which humans interrelate with each other.

Our online space is laced with constant interaction with the rest of the world through tech devices. Therefore, it’s open to cyberbullying.

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Facts About Online Bullying

Here are some facts about online bullying

Online bullying is also called cyberbullying. It takes place online through our electronic gadgets such as smartphones, computers, and tablets. This very handy devices, make communication easy. Mindless and insensitive people who usually lack good intentions abuse this innovation.

In our society today, people hide under pretenses and disguises of being ‘woke’ and openly bash or shame other people incessantly online. We sometimes call them internet trolls. Unicef reports that one in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying.

According to Stop Cyberbullying Organisation, cyberbullying is unique to the motive of the particular cyberbully. So, they act out in different forms. 

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While online bullying typically involves a repetitive behavior with malicious intent, the unruly act is perpetrated through varying methods such as harassment, cyberstalking, posting cruel falsehoods to damage reputation, and impersonation. It can even be as simple as posting mean comments about an aspect of someone on their Instagram post or continuing to message or harass someone who has clearly stated that they want no further contact.

Online bullies are not restricted to individuals alone, they go as far as intimidating businesses as well. For businesses and business owners, cyberbullying will likely occur often because of constant access to the internet.

Generally, bullying renders its victim helpless, humiliated, suicidal (in some cases) and triggers a string of mental health relapses like self-doubt, anxiety, and depression.

The effects of these occurrences on any business cannot be overstated and as such it is important to ward off cyberbullies by protecting our internet space in the best way possible.

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Ways To Deal With Online Bullying

Now that we are all caught up, what are the ideal ways to protect ourselves from online bullies? How do we manage cyberbully?

Here are ten easy and cost-free guidelines to dealing with online bullying:

Never Blame Yourself.

It is not your fault. Sometimes, people mistake bullying as an argument between two people. But if someone is continually harsh to you, that’s bullying. Bullies mask their acts under every available pretense aimed at self-doubt and fault finding. To stand tall, we must not blame ourselves to justify their actions. No one deserves to be treated maliciously.

Manage Stress

Stress plays a major role in how we perceive our personalities and usually stems from overwhelming situations. Most times, when we are stressed, we find that we tend to develop a grudging attitude to life. One good way to manage stress is by becoming aware of your strengths, weaknesses, and needs. This can help to curb the aftermath of cyberbullying.

Build Self-confidence.

One major benefit of having a healthy self-confidence level is that it helps you not waste time worrying about things that do not matter. You don’t have to be too hard on yourself – that’s what the bullies are up to.

Instead, practice healthy habits, do what you love, stop comparing yourself and take care of your body. With time, you will become too occupied with your efforts and have no space to entertain mindless ‘bully-talk’.

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Share Your Condition.

What comes to mind here is the general saying: “a problem shared is half-solved”. If the behavior is affecting your normal life and business, you should talk to someone. Talk to the right people; a guardian, a counselor or an adult you trust. They might be able to advise you on the proper next steps. 

Protect yourself.

Luckily, most of the mediums through which these acts occur now have various helpful features to limit their occurrences. On many social media platforms, there are now options to delete, hide or report comments and even ban users that may be potential bullies.

However, as a business, it is important to understand the difference between a legitimate complaint and harassment. If someone has a genuine criticism about you or your service, it usually never pays to delete their comments. However, in the case of harassment, there is no reason to keep enabling them.

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Avoid Communication With The Bully.

In some cases, bullies just want to see how you fight back. They derive pleasure in bringing you to their level and get their drive from their victim’s reactions because they think it gives them the upper power.

Whatever you do, don’t feed the troll. If you must, selectively communicate with your audience, and in doing so, sift the bullies from the crowd. You can also try humor, it helps to reduce tension and lighten situations.

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Take A Stand.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking the bully to stop their acts. You need to make sure you air your stand about their activities. Some people love to tease and make a laugh out of everything and as the target, it is your role to tell them how you feel about their actions and ask them to stop if you are not comfortable with it. This is you making your position clear.

Enabling the bullies by not taking a stand helps no one, especially not you. Likewise, if you know anyone who is being bullied, it is important to act as well and/or give your support to the victim.

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‘Privacy’ Should Be Private.

Don’t have a private online account and share passwords to these accounts with everyone. Protect your devices, and accounts from hackers who can use it to impersonate you.

If for any reason you feel you might be a target, take appropriate steps to protect yourself. Most social media platforms offer a two-step authentication that helps protect your account from being hacked. it is advisable to have private accounts and to screen your followers.

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Do Not Retaliate

Nothing makes you less creditworthy than turning around and being a bully in return. You should never, on no account, stoop to the level of your bullies. This is how chain reactions occur and how some bullies are made. Beat them, don’t join them.

Be Transparent.

Never pretend that you are not being bullied online if you are. Be open and ready to defend yourself. Let people know why you are taking actions against a person or group of people.

As a business, if you decide to delete comments, include a reason why it was deleted. This helps you keep your integrity and brings your loyal clients closer. 

That said, it is important to fully understand how to deal with attacks from online bullies, so we don’t miss out on other numerous advantages of being online.

Social media is also a great business tool and people who have no business enriching your business should not prevent you from adequately utilizing it.

Photo Credit: Unicef