Social media is a double-edged sword that needs to be always used wisely, as it is not always the reality. Due to the rapid growth in social media, cyberbullying has become an ongoing crisis and 38% of individuals are cyberbullied on social media daily. It is vital to know how to use social media wisely in order to steer clear from them.

Everything you post online is a footprint.

It might be a snap, story, or a post, every piece of media as soon as you hit the post/send button creates a footprint of yourself online. It can include a good deal of sensitive information. Behavioral patterns, lifestyle, whereabouts, people who you hang around with and much more valuable information to a bully. Making them unlinked to each other, not using locations and timestamps, not posting as soon as it has been taken, not publishing about your insecurities and emotions, are steps that can be taken to minimize your social footprint.

Fakes, Fakes
The process of making a replica of a single or a combination of many identities has become a simple process due to people not being aware of their digital footprint. Fakes are getting better day by day, spotting them unless you are a vigilant individual has become a tedious task. No comment interactions are a key giveaway in fake accounts and are the hardest to replicate. It is a red flag to watch out for to avoid getting exploited.

Trust Nobody
No matter how close you are to any person, trust is something that you should always doubt about. Sharing content that will impact negatively on your life over the internet is not the wisest move. It might not be always the same person behind that account. Paying attention to everybody’s texting patterns is vital as it can be a lifesaver in the long run. Technology is not flawless; your bully can be in disguise as a loved one.

A press of a button can ruin your whole life in a matter of seconds, taking a second to think will spare you a second chance.

Name : Vinuk Nimhan Rathnayake
School : S.Thomas' College Mount Lavinia