Social Media ‘Bullying’ Continues To Spiral Out Of Control

Feb. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- While the social media world continues to expand daily, networking and connecting with
friends, potential clients and more has never been easier.  

But, along with the convenience has come a major problem that seems to be slowly becoming an epidemic—social media bullying and harassment.

Typically the word ‘bullying’ is associated with schoolyards and young kids, but in recent years the term has taken on a whole new meaning.

On social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, bullies can target and harass any victim of their choosing, and have the capabilities to share it with the whole world.  The harassment on these sites are worse than physical bullying—they affect victims mentally and emotionally, and in several cases have led to suicide.  Bullying has become a disease amongst our society, but there is a cure.

People need to step up and promote awareness to work towards ending the ongoing problem; it is crucial to educate the public of the dangerous effects bullying can have on an individual.

Bullying doesn’t only affect teens and young adults.

Recently current World Heavyweight BKB Champion and former IBA World Cruiserweight Champion Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn announced that he will be dedicating his upcoming Heavyweight Championship of the World fight to victims of bullying worldwide.”

“Bullying is no longer about a bigger kid picking on a smaller, weaker kid in the schoolyard,” said Gunn.  “Through the explosion of social media, bullies can now target their victims and abuse them mentally and emotionally.  These bullying issues need to be dealt with immediately before it spirals out of control, and can lead to depression, hate and in the worst case scenario, suicide.”

Gunn spoke out that even as a professional fighter, he deals with ‘cyberbullying’ and harassment through social media.  

“It’s sad that anyone can racially slur or berate someone, and websites like Facebook do nothing about it,” said Gunn.  “These websites need to take responsibility and work towards ensuring that this does not continue.  How many victims of bullying need to commit suicide before people really step up and do something?”

Gunn is adamant about working towards a solution to ending this epidemic.  “Parents, teachers, and authoritative figures cannot turn their backs to this issue,” said Gunn.  “And these different social media websites need to do more to regulate and control the content they allow, so that people can no longer discriminate and prejudice others.”

Gunn expressed that more athletes, celebrities and high profile people need to step up as they have the resources and contacts to get their voices heard on spreading bully awareness.

“If we all make an effort to combat this problem, together we can make a difference,” said Gunn.  “It’s time to start working together to find a solution rather than turning our shoulder the other way and hope the issue goes away on its own.”

Gunn concluded, “I am dedicating my IBA Heavyweight Championship of the World fight against James Toney to all the victims of bullying out there.  It’s time to take a stand, and that time is now.”

For more information on bully awareness visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fighters-Unite-Against-Bul....