Many believe cyber-bullying is a personal problem with a quick solution: block the bully. However, cyber-bullying is rampant when social media is involved.

In Hawaii, it is a crime to use any form of electronics to harass a person. Harassment is a petty misdemeanor here and that should be a helpful step to stop bullying.  Unfortunately, these terrible things still happen.

Some people have found ways to cope with cyberbullying.

Robert Argueza (9) said, “Sometimes when I play a game, I see people who are deliberately downgrading people’s self-esteem because of one bad game. They target me sometimes, too, but it doesn’t affect me whatsoever. In fact, I find it hilarious.”

Sacha Powers (9) was willing to share her cyber-bullying story.

“I would like my peers to understand that there are some people that are going through something hard.”

Her bullying began around two to three years ago.

“It started because I tried to let someone into my life and told that person all my secrets and he told everyone about it. [The bully and a group of people] started to make fun of me online and in person,” she said.

She lost friends and began to feel alone and depressed. To stop the bullying, she first confronted the bully by telling him to stop. When the bully didn’t, she told her counselor because the bullying was happening on school grounds.

“Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse,”  states dosomething.org.

“Still to this day, I am fighting against bullying and I hope that one day it will come to an end and I won’t have to live in fear anymore,” Powers said.

Remember, people have control over their social media. As much as you want to share pictures with everyone, consider changing your settings to private so that only your friends can view and comment, and don’t be afraid to block.

While cyber-bullying leaves no bruises or broken bones, it can be a devastating experience that gives bullies a whole new platform for their actions.