Someone urgently picks up their phone and their face drops. They begin to feel their heartbeat rise as they comprehend the pain that they are experiencing. Tears drip down their face as they reread that hurtful text. This individual has just been betrayed. 

It has been found that over 73% of students feel that in some way they have been cyberbullied. Our society has allowed young individuals to rip a part of someone’s heart out by one simple post. Statistics have shown that an alarming 42% of people are bullied on Instagram. When used for revenge, social media can be destructive. No one truly thinks of the impression that their actions can leave on another individual. 

I’m able to see the harm that social media can do through one of my friends. One day, a girl was upset with my friend, so she took to social media to solve her problems. This girl tried to use social media as a way of revenge and ultimately she wanted my friend to feel pain. I was able to first-hand witness the impact that cyberbullying left on my friend’s life as she still continues to carry that baggage throughout her life. 

It is time for society to take a stand and guard youth against the destructive ways of others so that people like my friend do not have to carry baggage for the rest of their life. Humanity must discover a way to demonstrate kindness to everyone and learn to accept others’ differences and embrace them. It is time to stop bullying others and learn to love. We must become united and stand up for the weak, continuously striving to make our world a better place. 

Sources:

https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics

Photo Credits: Kim Komando

Written by

Katelyn Potyondy

Katelyn Potyondy, junior, has always enjoyed writing and reading. She particularly loves writing poetry for The OLu MUSE. In her spare time, Katelyn dances in Advanced Dance at Orange Lutheran and outside of school at the Elite Dance Academy of Orange County. She has danced since the age of three and practices around 25 hours a week. Katelyn can’t wait to be part of the MUSE staff for the second year. But most importantly, Katelyn always strives to work hard and put God first in her life.