Words Can Hurt | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Words Can Hurt

Cyberbullying is a serious issue for teens

387
Words Can Hurt
www.chicagonow.com

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." We are taught this rhyme at a young age, but is it outdated? What about tweets, texts, or pictures? Can they hurt us? As a millennial, I've watched technology evolve from a very young age. What stands out the most to me, though, is cyberbullying in high school.

It's sad that my generation has lost the ability to confront one another face to face.

We ridicule each other from the safety of our bedrooms, hiding behind iPhones and computer screens. Bullying used to take place in school where adults usually witnessed the problem. Today bullying happens behind each other's backs and all over the internet. Teachers are not able to reprimand students for bullying if it doesn't take place at school though, so where does that put us?

The subtweet is the most cowardly creation ever invented.

Subtweeting is tweeting about a person in a negative way without including their name, making it extremely passive aggressive and hurtful to their target. For the bully, the subtweet seems genius, you can say whatever nasty thing you want about a person behind their back and never have to own up to it.

The funny thing about the internet is that once it is out there, it doesn't go away.

You can delete a tweet or photo, but someone has probably taken a screenshot. You can delete a text message you sent, but the recipient will still receive it. The pain caused from mean words posted on the internet can be much more painful than the pain caused from a mean girl calling you a dork in the hallway to your face.

Cyberbullying can hurt multiple people at once.

Another problem with cyber bullying is that people are bound to take sides. When a feud is visible to everyone, plastered all over Twitter or Facebook, the damage only grows. I remember one time when one of my friends was being cyber bullied, I decided to tweet something really nice about her to try to make her feel better, but that only sent her bullies after me as well. I became collateral damage in their war. Suddenly, I didn't feel like a good friend anymore because the cyber bullies made me feel small and stupid.

Why do we allow cyber bullying to exist? Why can't we just delete cyberbullying like we delete old pictures of ourselves from middle school off of our Facebooks? Why is it that cyberbullying is a trend that doesn't seem to go out of style? We need to take a stand and call out cyber bullies. The old saying is wrong, words can hurt, even more than sticks and stones -- especially if they're all over the internet.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190123
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14841
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457812
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26600
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments