New Twist on Dangerous Trend: Cyberbullying Oneself
Teen self-harm in the form of cutting, scratching or even self-inflicted burns has gained a lot of attention over the last several years. The behaviors obviously cause physical damage and represent internal turmoil. Even more importantly, the actions have been linked to suicide. More recently, a new form of self-harm in youth has emerged and is a new warning sign, explains a researcher and bullying expert from Florida Atlantic University. The behavior: “digital self-harm,” “self-trolling,” or “self-cyberbullying,” occurs when adolescents post, send or share mean things about themselves anonymously online. The concern: it is happening at alarming rates and could be a cry for help. A new study is the first to examine the extent of this behavior and is the most comprehensive investigation of this understudied problem. “The idea that someone would cyberbully themselves first gained public attention with the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Hannah Smith in 2013 after she anonymously sent
