Michael S. answered • 10/21/22
PhD in Sociology with 6 Years of Teaching Experience
Cyberbullying is an electronic instigated type of harassment. Cyberbullying involves the transference of threatening and intimidating messages that are meant to agonize a person. Virtual reality is a computer environment meant to stimulate and enhance people's entertainment and interactions. A person using virtual reality software may interconnect with different items across the world as well as other virtual features. This excerpt shall investigate cyberbullying occurrence in the virtual world while exploring how technology has intensified cyberbullying in the current generation.
To some individuals, this act of cyberbullying has been both familiar as well as foreign. Virtual reality has provided a platform where there are many games taking place simultaneously. Some of these games require multi-playing which is a haven for cyberbullying during play (Frank). This may happen because some players fail to concede defeat. This kind of harassment is destructive as it may lead to mental health problems. At some levels, it triggers the tormentors' minds to send death-threat messages to their opponents. In other cases, the mind of a player may be triggered by virtual reality to physical confrontations, which is rather more dangerous. Nevertheless, players may be protected during virtual reality games through an opt-out tab in case they want to dismiss an insecure game. This tab would also send a notification of an offending situation the moment the player opt-out of a game.
In the Contemporary world, research shows that both male and female young persons are similarly prone to be victims of digital tormenting, while also being disposed to become cyber harassment criminals. It is noted that this type of digital harassment is increasingly becoming rampant among young people. There has been a relatively huge number of youths who have confessed to having been bullied in virtual reality, and this kind of digital harassment is becoming more dangerous among the youth (Whittaker and Kowalski). Currently, in Australia, various schools are concerned with the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence (NDA). This day is aimed at coming up with ways to curb cyberbullying. Nevertheless, such a move is being derailed by the fact that new digital networking applications and programs are being developed every day. It means that, as some try to handle one type of online harassment, there arises another, hence making it hard to contain.
Currently, Facebook is being used as a digital device or tool for harassment. They usually use suspicious accounts to annoy their victims. This account is commonly regarded as a “Pseudo.” It is usually a mysterious account on Facebook that people use to post alternate content from their official Facebook accounts. They are usually, uncovering, commonplace, and increasingly self-produced. Along these lines, this phony Facebook account is used to secretly assault and insult their counterparts. It is so unfortunate because the victims end up under pressure without being able to share with anyone. The mysterious person may influence his/her victim even more leading to ailments such as depression or even death (Blackburn et al.).
In conclusion, it is notable that cyberbullying is a significant threat that is affecting a great number of people in this world of innovation. It is believed to expand as virtual reality applications are being invented and consumed all over the world. This seems to ruin the efforts intended to reduce the level of cyber harassment. Therefore, quick measures ought to be introduced to minimize this problem before it affects many youths. Young people should also be encouraged to be modest in general, whether offline or online.
Works Cited
Blackburn, Ashley, et al. Emerging Trends in Cyber Ethics and Education. Hershey, Pa Information Science Reference, 2019.
Frank, Allegra. “Online Harassment in Virtual Reality Is “Way, Way, Way Worse” — but Can Devs Change That?” Polygon, 16 Mar. 2016, www.polygon.com/2016/3/16/11242294/online-harassment-virtual-reality-gdc-2016. Accessed 13 Oct. 2022.
Whittaker, Elizabeth, and Robin M. Kowalski. “Cyberbullying via Social Media.” Journal of School Violence, vol. 14, no. 1, 25 Sept. 2014, pp. 11–29, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15388220.2014.949377, 10.1080/15388220.2014.949377.
