Written by 16 yo Tealia who is part of Safe on Social's Youth Advisory Committee
We are all so used to the bully being an antagonist, someone who is bigger than us, scarier than us, someone we dread seeing, someone who we would try to avoid at all costs, but what happens when the bully, the master manipulator, the perpetrator is a friend? As life moves on, so do our friends. Things get complicated, and friend groups split. People grow apart and drift away, but sometimes we remain friends for many years. But what about when those friends start to make comments, demeaning jokes, and nasty comments online? What about when those friends start to become mean? What about when those friends become a bully?
Bullying can often be mistaken for a fight with friends, but in reality, it is much more than this. Bullying is repetitive; it is degrading comments and sometimes physical violence over and over again. It doesn't have to be in person. Instead, in this digital age, a person can get bullied anywhere, everywhere, and anytime.
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