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Keeping your kids safe has always been a set priority to all parents. But, did you know that more than half of teens (your kids) are discriminated against on the internet and you may not even be aware of it. While discrimination has a ton of major negatives it also has a couple positives. Such as allowing for teens to become stronger than they were before and allowing some teens to open up with others and to really find themselves. But, like said before there are a ton of negatives when it comes to discrimination like causing emotional breakdowns, being a social misfit, and in the worst possible scenario even death/suicide. Discrimination due to cyberbullying both from peers or adults, can have negative effects on the victims health physically, mentally and long term.
Bullying/discriminating someone could actually help someone. If a victim is faced with someone who discriminates them about their race. Then next time someone does the same thing to the victim, the victim will have a harder shell and won’t let it bother them. Not only that, when people have problems it usually causes them to go to others for help. And so, when a victim of discrimination goes to other people for help, it could ultimately lead to a lifetime long friendship. But, in the end, although these two positives seemed liked they were really something to consider; they aren’t because when it comes to discrimination the negatives are way more drastic than the few positives.
When discrimination due to cyberbullying occurs the negative effects of it doesn’t only linger for a couple of days or weeks, it lingers for years. “Blood pressure, body mass and stress-related hormones were assessed when the youths turned 20.” (Joan Raymond). When blood pressure, body mass and stress-related hormones were measured; it showed that teens who had been victims all had a higher chance of higher blood pressure, bigger body masses and more stress when they got older. Along with higher blood pressure came a higher chance/risk of strokes, cardiac diseases, and an increase of the body’s inflammatory response. Other long term effects that have been tested are “low economic status, depression, or unhealthy behaviors such as drug use, for example.” (Joan Raymond). This proves that when it comes to discrimination it can’t be taken as something that someone will get over in a matter of days, because even after years signs of wear and tear from discrimination still boldly show themselves.
Just like it was said above there are major symptoms of post discrimination. Unlike the long term effects above, these are mainly short term effects and a few facts from studies done by UCLA. In a recent study based off of the fact that Asian and Latin Americans are the top victims of discrimination, Mark Wheeler of UCLA found that “The level of discrimination also impacted these teens' grade-point averages and their health and was associated with depression, distress and lower levels of self-esteem.” Including the fact that victims who suffered discrimination from both teens and adults showed symptoms of aches and pains. Showing that not only is being sad and depressed the effects to a victim but a whole lot more. Also, not only were teens discriminated against from other teens (60%) but also from adults (63%), while 12% were discriminated against on a daily basis. Teens who are discriminated suffer much much more symptoms versus a teen who hasn’t faced any.
Finally, even though discrimination doesn't seem bad at all, it has many many negatives to it. Discrimination from cyberbullying from anyone has major effects such as mental and physical effects, all of which are very hard to shake off and forget about. Some of which that cause scars for life and can haunt you for years after the fact. Once again, even though there is some good to discrimination, (with a stretch) the bad just outweighs the good by way too much for debating. Just remember that next time you may feel like posting something of someone else and are discriminating them, the effect it could have on them could be one that you could never ever forgive yourself for.
Work Citied:
Wheeler, Mark. "Discrimination Hurts, but How Much?" UCLA Newsroom. 13 September 2010., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.
Raymond, Joan. "Racial Discrimination in Teen Years Could Create Health Problems - NBC News." NBC News. 3 February 2014., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.
