CYBER BULLYING IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

IMPLICATIONS ON YOUTHS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has transformed the life style of youths across the world. One outcome of the increasing use of ICT is bullying someone via electronic devices, termed cyber bullying. Although the prevalence of this situation is on the increase, but the phenomenon has not been researched extensively in Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of cyber bullying and highlight its implication for the psychological well-being of Nigerian youths. The paper shed more light in understanding the concept of cyber bullying, and reviews existing literature; its related factors and the outcomes of the behaviour. Existing government policies on the problem were also analyzed. Based on the available literature, cyber bullying is a global problem and very prevalent in Nigeria with a long lasting negative impacts on the psychological well-being of youths. Many of the victims of cyber bullying may experience a technical knock-out effect throughout their life span. They may also have depression, sadness, anxiety, and difficulty with relationships, substance abuse, self-inflicted suicide and school dropout. The experience can result to low self-esteem, anomie, isolation, psychosomatic symptoms and school failure. The paper concluded that there is need for urgent attention of researchers and policy makers to address the issue and recommended some strategic interventions to solve the problem. For instance, individualised interventions for youths affected by cyber bullying, either as victims or as bullies, need to be developed to resolve conflict and mitigate negative consequences that may result.