Bullying problem should be tackled every day
photo or infographic by GinElla Mire
It has been acted out 1000 times. The stereotypical bullying with the big guy stealing the little guy’s milk money. The playground or park is terrified by the gang of bullies. There are tears. There are punches. The bully is defeated.
But bullying is more than a playground concern. Countless people of all ages encounter bullying from many areas like, school, work, home and social media. Every October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and on October 21st the school is encouraged to wear orange on Unity day.
Roughly 20% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide. Bullying can affect the individuals mental health. Those who are bullied can have social, emotional, and a major downfall in academic performance. This traumatic experience shuts down an individual internally and many don’t speak out. Kids are more affected due to their vulnerability. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have more negative outcomes. It can cause depression, anxiety, and affect their social status. Sometimes, it can be a fatal outcome.
The prevalence of social media has made bullying easier for some demographics. The anonymity of a spam account or catfish situation can give a bully more power. It is hard to know what is real online, and many times that works in the bully’s favor. Plus, with a phone in the hand of a majority of teens today, it is impossible to get away from the bullying. Bullies can now follow victims home, air drop them threats and send messages from multiple accounts.
National Bullying Prevention Month was initiated by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006 to spread awareness to society and to bring a voice of courage to those who suffer from bullying. October is a dedicated month to unite communities and to remember we are all here for each other. Orange is the color people wear to send a message about the prevention to stop bullying. Schools come together and have organizations and fundraisers to raise awareness about bullying through media, videos, presentations and video publications.
Bullying can be stopped if everyone comes together. Unity day is a start, but every day people must take a stand against all types of bullying. Wear orange on October 21st, but rise up daily against the injustices of bullying every single day.
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GinElla is a junior on the VOW newspaper staff. When she graduates she wants to go to the University of Houston and study Human Nutrition. You can reach...
