We are proud to see those who have suffered as a result of cyber bullies and cyber attacks coming along and telling their success stories overcoming adversity. If you are being threatened or are a victim of cyber bullying know that Profile Defenders is here to help you.
As a guest speaker at the Society of the Four Arts, Aija Mayrock spoke openly about her childhood experiences of being bullied. The Palm Beach Cyber Bully speech began with an explanation of Mayrock’s experiences as a bullying victim, beginning at the tender age of 8. She was teased and taunted for her lisp and for everything else.
When she was in High School Mayrock’s parents moved from the East to the West Coast, believing her troubles would end. While the bullying at school ended, Mayrock’s experience with cyber bullying was just beginning. Friends and social media contacts from her previous school began mocking her with videos that portrayed her in a negative light.
Devastated by these actions, Mayrock was determined to fight back in her own way. The first step she took was to remove her social media accounts. She stayed off social media for several months. Mayrock was finally successful, but also relied on her parents and others for support.
When Mayrock turned 16, she decided to write a book about her experiences titled The Survival Guide to Bullying, which was well received by teens across the country and around the world. Her goal was to help teens deal with bullying in a positive way and to provide some insights into her experiences, in an effort to hopefully dissuade some teens from engaging in bullying behavior.
As a young, adult college student, Mayrock began traveling around the country giving her speech. She was also the feature guest on several TV shows and in magazines. Mayrock has also spoken at the United Nations and has worked with Unicef on project to prevent cyber bullying.
As she travels around the country giving her speech, Mayrock offers several tips for those bullied in school and in cyber space. Her first piece of advice is to use caution when using social media. Use filters and privacy settings, to limit who you share with. She advises teens to think about the person before liking a photo or a though, because that person could represent something you’re opposed to.
Some additional tips include telling yourself you’re worthy and a good person on a daily basis, and seeking the confidence of a trusted adult or friend to confide in regularly. Bullies need some way to deal with the feelings of hurt and anger. Having someone to talk to helps.
Other advice she offers include expanding social opportunities beyond school and doing something you enjoy every day. She suggests having a plan for handling the situation also helps. Deleting social media accounts is a great way to get rid of negative attention. If users don’t have anything to make fun of or bully, they will likely stop and turn their attentions elsewhere. Perhaps the best advice is to tell and adult what’s going on and ask for advice and help.
