The anonymous broadcasting of damaging things about oneself on the internet is known as digital self-harm, and it is more frequent than we realize
As every parent is well aware, social media carries a lot of threats, many of which are novel to us. Although many parents are aware of cyberbullying and the self-esteem concerns linked with social media, a new epidemic known as digital self-harm has emerged in recent years.
"Digital self-harm is the anonymous online posting, transmitting, or otherwise sharing of unpleasant content about oneself," Sameer Hinduja, a criminology professor at Florida Atlantic University and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, explained.
Because of its anonymity, digital self-harm can be difficult for parents to detect—and difficult for researchers to examine. However, as Hinduja and his colleagues are discovering, it is not only a rather prevalent habit among young people, but those who indulge in it are at a higher risk of suicide thoughts and attempts.
How often is online self-harm?
Data obtained in 2016 by Hinduja and his coauthor Justin Patchin, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, revealed that approximately 6% of the youth polled had engaged in digital self-harm at least once, with males being more likely to have done so.
"6% may not seem like a lot, but when you multiply it by millions of children in America, that's a lot," Hinduja says. "Even in a classroom of 20 students, that's one out of twenty."
This figure may also be rising. According to a recent study released by Hinduja and his colleagues, 9% of youth polled acknowledged engaging in digital self-harm, indicating that its prevalence may be increasing.
Why do teenagers engage in cyberbullying?
"Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic," Hinduja said, "youth are increasingly struggling with mental health difficulties." "Unless they are consciously shepherded by caring adults who are actively involved in their offline and online lives, they tend to cope with their anxieties and pains in dysfunctional ways, similar to how you or I might have dealt with them growing up."
The motivations for indulging in digital self-harm appear to be diverse. Some of the reasons stated in Hinduja's research, which included gathering input from kids who had engaged in digital self-harm, were self-hatred, depressive symptoms, attention-seeking goals, or coping with others being nasty.
"Digital self-harm may be a cry for help, a plea for attention, or some twisted approach to see which of their peers will stand up and defend them, to identify who their genuine friends are, and who isn't their true friend," Hinduja explained. "We know that conventional self-harm is associated with suicide ideation and attempts." In certain cases, this may be an attempt to release terrible emotions that they are unable to negotiate or reconcile, similar to how cutting and burning oneself is sometimes associated with an attempt to release painful emotions."
Suicide rates are higher when people engage in digital self-harm.
Hinduja and his colleagues examined middle and high school children ages 12 to 17 in their most recent study on digital self-harm. This 2019 survey investigated the relationship between digital self-harm activities and suicidality.
According to Hinduja, "those who engaged in digital self-harm were between 5 and 7 times more likely to have considered suicide, and between 9 and 15 times more likely to have tried suicide." If you notice your child engaged in this behavior, take it carefully because it is a sign that they require assistance.
How to Spot Online Self-Harm
"Digital self-harm is really difficult to detect because you don't know who is engaging in abusive behavior," Hinduja explained. "You immediately think that it must be a peer from school or a stranger." However, if your child is being cyberbullied, you should examine the potential that these nasty communications are an act of digital self-harm.
"Parents, educators, and even law enforcement must recognize that harmful or abusive communications received online by a child may have been delivered by that child," Hinduja said. "We can't be so ready to think it's a schoolmate or a stranger risk online."
As difficult as it is, it is critical for parents to be proactive in monitoring their child's usage of electronic devices, as well as their social media activities. "At a certain age, we want to walk a tight line between giving our kids agency and safeguarding them," said Christopher Hansen, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks.
If your child has many accounts, especially accounts that are either anonymous or under a different name, this could be an indication that something else is going on. Another red flag is if your child's reaction to being cyberbullied seems out of character.
What should parents do?
If you discover that your child is engaged in digital self-harm, you will most likely experience a range of emotions, from dread to astonishment to confusion—but it is critical that you keep these feelings in check.
"It's not even just words; it's body language, because our youth are so quick to pick up on us, and they'll just shut down," Hinduja added.
If you ask your child why they are doing this or become irritated with them, "it will just reinforce the horrible way they feel about themselves," Hansen said. "This is a serious problem,
Instead, the emphasis should be on ensuring that they feel supported and understood, and that your priority as their parents are to ensure that they are healthy and receiving the necessary assistance. "Hopefully, all parents and caregivers can put themselves in the shoes of a teenager, because growing up is excruciatingly difficult," Hinduja added.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can provide assistance for you or your loved ones.
#CyberBullying #DigitalSelfHarm
SOURCE: lifehacker
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