Dismissing cyberbullying with "just turn it off" advice is harmful

Online content, particularly on platforms like TikTok, frequently trivializes cyberbullying with dismissive advice such as "just turn off the device." Memes often depict victims of online harassment as easily escaping their tormentors, implying a lack of seriousness or effort on their part.

“

Just turn off that damn thing!

One common meme format features SpongeBob SquarePants with the caption, "I am a victim of online violence," humorously suggesting that victims can easily extricate themselves from difficult situations. Another popular format shows a bungee jumper with the message, "What 'victims' of online violence do instead of just blocking people." These examples, while sometimes having fewer than a thousand views individually, proliferate across different profiles, reinforcing a harmful narrative that minimizes the impact of cyberbullying.

This pervasive message – "just turn it off" – suggests that simply disabling a device or blocking an individual will provide immediate relief. However, this advice fundamentally misunderstands the nature of online harassment. While blocking a profile might stop contact with one specific account, it does not erase harmful content already posted, nor does it prevent the bully from creating new profiles. Furthermore, it fails to address the psychological damage and lasting memories associated with online abuse.

“

The implication is clear: victims can easily get out whenever they want.

The article emphasizes that for vulnerable groups, especially children, the internet is not merely an add-on to real life; it is an integral space for social interaction, learning, and entertainment. The advice to "just turn off the device" overlooks the fact that online interactions are deeply woven into the fabric of young people's social lives, making a simple disconnect an inadequate solution to complex issues of cyberbullying.

“

The advice "just turn off the device" ignores the fact that the internet for vulnerable groups like children is no longer an add-on to 'real' life. It is a place where they talk to friends, follow what's happening in class, arrange meetings, learn, and have fun.