Cyber-bullying in the Banner

By Dan Danaher

ONE in every three teenagers have experienced some form of bullying on Facebook, according to a recent survey conducted by filmmakers at Ennis Youth Project.

For the young people affected, the bullying continued for more than a month. The online survey of 100 people, aged between 13 and 18, found three-quarters said they had become less confident as a result of the bullying and 40% had become depressed.

One of the most encouraging findings, however, is that many teens responded by blocking out the bully and had informed a friend, family member or teacher.

One Ennis secondary school pupil, who was a victim of cyber-bullying, believes it is one of the biggest issues facing young people.

The 15-year-old went straight to Junction manager Jean Tierney and youth worker Aoife Guilfoyle, who gave all the help needed at the time.

“I was bullied in the past. I came and talked to people at the Junction and I am fine now.

“If anyone is being bullied, they can come and talk to me, a youth worker or someone else in the Junction. “People in the Junction are sound. They will not tell people you were bullied,” she says.

The teenager was part of a group at the centre that identified cyber-bullying, imagery and suicide as issues that need to be addressed.

The group researched information on the internet and designed information boards on cyber-bullying and mental health.

These boards provided helpline numbers and other useful facts and figures to create public awareness and give a better understanding of the cause and effects of cyber-bullying and suicide.

“We designed it in a way that everyone in the Junction would read it, so if someone is being bullied it would not be noticeable they were getting the number of a helpline,” she explains.

“The worst thing you can do is to keep it to yourself, it just gets worse. It builds and builds to a point and you can’t take anymore.

“If it is getting so serious that you can’t walk outside the door, you should contact the gardaí.”
While bullying is very common among teenagers, she doesn’t believe there are any bullies in the Junction.

“Sometimes it can start over two girls fighting over a boy and it gets bigger and bigger as their friends get involved texting. It can start over bullies being hurt.

“Just because bullies are angry over something, which may have happened in their home, they feel they are entitled to lash out at someone else,” she explains.

A song called Social Threshwork, written about two people who died by suicide, is described as “inspirational” by the pupil, who is struck by the line describing bullies – “Your cry for help wasn’t heard but you take your issues out on someone else because you know they will not strike back”.

Youth information officer Mikey Flaherty is also involved in a group that conducts extensive research to select a topic of the month for discussion.

The 17-year-old Ennis Community College student feels more security on websites and oversight by parents needs to be provided to reduce cyber-bullying.

“I think sometimes cyber-bullying is caused because bullies have had a hard life as well. There has to be something else going on in their head.

“Sometimes bullies need help. We need to ask them what is going on in their lives that is causing them to bully people,” he explains.

“It is like you have to give the bully some attention. It sounds wrong but because if everyone feels sorry for the victim and we will help you alone. That will make the bully worse.

“It is like a vicious circle that doesn’t stop. The bully could get worse because they have no friends. There are cases where it is the bully’s fault where they feel the need to bully people. Even if the bully could come and talk to someone, a teenager or adult or get counselling, it could help,” he says.