Humans overrate what logic can do for them. The logic path runs out of talent quickly. It only traffics in known facts. It doesn’t deal with unknowns. Emotions, not logic, drive most people. Our brains are wired to look for a pattern in behavior. Unfamiliar ways cause chaos in the mind and are perceived as threats. Strange patterns are harder to understand and comprehend. Uncertainty takes over. Fear of failure is the result. Fear of social rejection triggers the same neural response as physical pain. Young people on the internet’s social media platforms live in constant, vulnerable fear. The threat of rejection is always there. The fear of getting excluded has many consequences. Expecting fair communication exchanges from strangers is wishful thinking, at best. Feeling like a failure is always just one click away. Public discourse with strangers and participation in collective endeavors are fraught with stress and harmful delusion. Your kids are easy prey for online predators. Cyberbullying victimization is rampant among teens. Bullying can be defined as an aggressive, intentional act or behavior carried out by a group or an individual against a victim who cannot easily defend himself or herself repeatedly and over time.
Girls are the biggest victims. Middle school and high school students are the most at-risk age groups. Frequent internet use has been associated with increased instances of cyberbullying. Social media may lead to cyberbullying with adverse well-being outcomes for victims and perpetrators, including damaged relationships and heightened psychological distress. The early detection of cyberbullying in social networks becomes crucial to mitigate the impact on the victims.
Tell your kids to find something else to do. Don’t go near the abyss.
