Perceptions Of Cyberbullying in Harare Youths. A Case of Eastlea Surburb

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Perceptions Of Cyberbullying in Harare Youths. A Case of Eastlea Surburb

Pure Mlambo
Women’s University in Africa
549 Arcturus Road, Manresa, Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract : Cyberspace was identified as a form of communication, whereby people could interact effectively and work as the new norm due to the covid-19 pandemic. However, this came about with the problem of cyberbullying which was defined as the intentional use of gadgets of sociation to inflict harm at an individual. The paper sought to establish the perception of cyberbullying among youths in a Harare suburb of Eastlea. A qualitative approach was taken for the study. Three participants with average ages of 22 were identified using the snowballing technique and interviewed. The results from the research revealed that the participants’ understanding of cyberbullying was the intentional harm of individual using gadgets of sociation, with the perpetrators and the social media platforms to blame for this. Intervention strategies included education on the concept of cyberbullying and its effects, awareness on policies regarding cyber victims and cyberbullies, maintaining and securing personal information. The research also emphasized how cyberbullying was difficult to avoid completely but individuals could manage their data and reduce their risk of being victims.

Keywords: Cyberbullying, Gadgets of sociation, Perception, Youth

I.INTRODUCTION

Cyberspace: A form of communication

Cyberspace, influenced by the internet is fast changing the environment, allowing an improvement in which people connect with each other. This has led to an increase in the use of social media as a form of interaction. Following the covid 19 pandemic, social media platforms have become the new norm of communication among youths, students, employees and employers due to social distance. This has also become a preferred form of communication as youths keep in touch via common platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Tik-tok, YouTube and Instagram, with the youths’ efforts towards gaining more followers and people liking, sharing and retweeting the content they post.
Cyberspace has positive attributes, it is a fast, beneficial and convenient mode of interaction. However, because individuals post pictures and discuss personal information, this has allowed for cyberbullying. Some details are not posted but targeted individuals are hacked by cyberbullies, using the information to harass and threaten their victims. Cyberspace has normalized cyberbullying among social media platforms

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