5 Methods to Deal With Online Bullying

Social media has revolutionized the world. It has given a voice to the unvoiced, a platform to the underrepresented and a neighborhood to the remoted. However there’s a flipside to this magical world, and a serious characteristic of it’s physique shaming. The all-inclusive and accessible nature of social media is its largest draw, however in some cases, it is usually its most gaping flaw. It permits customers who normally conceal beneath the cloak of anonymity the chance to persecute, harass, ridicule and bully individuals around the clock with body-shaming feedback on their each put up and replace.

As somebody who lives within the highlight, I’ve had firsthand expertise with simply how intrusive and upsetting on-line bullying will be. Within the eyes of some, you’ll at all times be too fats or too skinny, or too tall or too quick. Or they’ll criticize your pores and skin shade, the garments you put on, your coiffure, your make-up, the best way you discuss and the opinions you maintain. Briefly, something to undermine you and make you query your self, which in flip can result in extreme repercussions, reminiscent of despair and consuming issues.

A couple of years in the past, after the publication of my first novel, I skilled how scary it may be when a fan turns right into a real-life stalker who not solely writes about you, however obsessively follows you to public occasions. It was a horrible ordeal, however I discovered from it, and it made me stronger.

For me, the true energy of social media is about sharing a constructive vibe and serving to others. Consistent with that spirit, I’m completely happy to share some steps you’ll be able to take to take care of physique shaming and ship the trolls again into their caves.

Know Your Enemy

Physique-shaming isn’t at all times as blatant as somebody calling you “fats” or “ugly.” It may be extremely refined, and it may very well be from a so-called buddy, however I assure it should nonetheless get underneath your pores and skin in one million and one other ways. For instance, somebody may say one thing alongside the strains of, “You’ll by no means get a boyfriend trying like that,” or, “Must you be consuming that?” Such feedback will not be meant to harm, however belief me, they’ve one function and one function solely: to make you’re feeling unhealthy about your self. I’ve bought zero-tolerance for physique shaming and am of the varsity of thought that if somebody can’t say one thing good, they shouldn’t say something in any respect. Curating your social media may very well be a wonderful place to begin. Lower out the individuals, even when they’re shut pals, who instantly or not directly help the toxic tradition of physique shaming.

Don’t Feed the Trolls

Nobody likes being ignored, and sometimes the easiest way to take care of body-shamers is to faux they don’t exist. In different phrases, don’t feed the trolls. Bullies solely bully to garner a response. It validates their deep-rooted negativity and proves that they’ve upset you in some form or type. Should you choose to deal with them as one thing so inconsequential that they don’t even deserve a reply, chances are high they will quickly transfer on to their subsequent goal.

Have a Battle Plan

If ignoring body-shamers doesn’t work, it’s time to take motion. In such situations, don’t lose your mood and act impulsively. It’s what they need. Take a cool, calculated and measured method. Rehearse precisely what you need to say and why you need to say it. By no means battle hearth with hearth or stoop to their stage. It could be tempting to lash out when somebody is being imply to you, however you’ll really feel lots higher about your self in the long term in the event you take the excessive highway and stroll it. Bear in mind, your opinion of your self shouldn’t be depending on the views of others.

Be Proactive and Optimistic

Physique shaming solely works if these doing the shaming assume you’ve got adverse hang-ups or are insecure about your physique. Show that you just don’t. If somebody criticizes your weight, then why not put up one other image of your self with the caption, “Completely satisfied in my very own pores and skin” or, ‘Residing by my very own guidelines”? It’s your physique, so personal it! Don’t let the trolls dictate the phrases of your happiness.

Study to Love Your self

Lastly, and most significantly, study to like each side of your self, flaws and all, in the event you’re to take care of the ugly face of body-shaming efficiently. Each one in every of us is gorgeous, and nobody has the correct to inform us in any other case. When somebody physique shames you, it says much more about them than it does about you. They’re those with actual hang-ups and insecurities, they usually’re simply attempting to compensate by making you’re feeling the identical means. Don’t allow them to!