Bullying has always been an unfortunate part of growing up, and can even carry on through adolescence or adulthood. However, as the times have changed, bullying has become easier and more prominent on today's children with the existence of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is classified as any kind of bullying that takes place online, without the need for face-to-face communication. According to NOBullying.com, "The World's Authority on Bullying", 52% of young people have reported being cyberbullied. In addition to the hurt, embarrassment and low self-esteem that can come from being bullied, Paul R. Smokowski and Kelly Holland Kopasz have found that children who are bullied also have an increased risk for various mental health issues including depression and anxiety. With the internet so readily accessible and growing as an active part of our daily lives, cyberbullying and the affect it leaves, specifically on our youth, should not be overlooked.
In a lecture with Dr. Scacco of Purdue University, he shared the results from some of his studies, and how the opportunity for uncivil interaction, or cyberbullying, can be decreased. Certain actions can be taken when creating or running your website. For example, in the comment section, active interaction from the admin reduces hateful comments. You can also ask direct questions of the readers, giving direction to the comments you will receive and require those who want to leave comments to sign on with their real name through Facebook, Twitter, or Email. In an experiment Dr. Scacco analyzed placing "respect" button similar to the infamous Facebook "like" button, the study showed that it encouraged people to respect the opinions of others that they might not agree with and promoted open-minded engagement.
When creating your personal website or simply interacting online, be aware of the large audience that is available to be reached and how you can do so with the most positivity possible.