The rise of the digital landscape has presented some incredible resources for us all. However, it’s important to note that these benefits are often met by serious challenges. One of the most prevalent is the closer integration of digital tools into kids’ and teenagers’ lives can expose them to cyberbullying. Film has often been a great tool for depicting and exploring the issues of contemporary life, including what it is like to grow up in modern times. Over the last decade, more movies have begun to include cyberbullying as plot points. But just how accurately do movies tend to represent challenges related to online harassment?
Portrayals of Online Immersion
Many of us have increasingly incorporated digital tools more closely into our lives. While this offers incredible benefits for people of all ages, it’s common knowledge that too much screen time can have negative effects on kids. This isn’t just from the perspective of physical issues such as eye strain or disrupted sleep from evening blue light exposure. The longer kids spend online, the greater the likelihood may be that they could be vulnerable to bullying experiences.
This is perhaps one of the prevalent concerns around having access to an immersive online ecosystem. While it’s never the fault of the victims, their exposure to malicious influences often isn’t helped by how closely — and relentlessly — the Internet is integrated into our lives. But, how accurately have films portrayed this element of risk?
While Unfriended (2014) is considered supernatural horror, it demonstrates one of the common issues of online immersion. At the beginning of the movie, a high school student is humiliated when their behavior at a party is caught on video and spread online. This is a relatively accurate depiction of the current ubiquitous nature of cameras and how their close incorporation in contemporary life can result in even mildly embarrassing behavior becoming a source of bullying.
2011’s Cyber Bully also provides insights into how immersion in the online world can be a breeding ground for bullying. Upon receiving a laptop for her birthday, the lead character commences to becoming engrossed in an online social group that is populated by malicious peers. Perhaps more questionable, though, is that the parent in the situation takes on the legal and educational systems to solve the problem. Stopping bullying certainly requires significant community involvement and change. However, the film gives little consideration of arguably parents’ most important role, which is guiding kids to have a healthy relationship with the online world.
Representation of Subtle Methods
Cyberbullying is a complex issue. It’s not always as direct as many in-person methods of bullying. There can be a variety of approaches, which often rely on subtle but relentless harassment over a period of time. This can make cyberbullying particularly challenging to spot and address early on.
Film has the potential to use subtle audiovisual and narrative tools to depict the complexity of people’s lived experiences. But does that mean that movies have been successful in representing the methods involved with cyberbullying? Well, unfortunately, it seems as though most filmmakers have taken a broader approach to onscreen versions of cyberbullying methods.
For instance, The DUFF (2015) depicts cyberbullying as an extended form of traditional name-calling. The central character’s peers brand her the Designated Ugly Fat Friend (DUFF) in online groups and malicious share videos to reinforce this. While this type of behavior undoubtedly exists and can be damaging, the film fails to capture the more insidious methodologies that can be prevalent in cyberbullying
That said, there are some films that offer suggestions of the more subtle development of methods. 2017’s Like. Share. Follow is a horror movie that gives insights into the potential for parasocial online relationships to develop into something more damaging. While certainly, the heightened components of horror are less than realistic, the gradual evolution from distant appreciation to stalking and worse is a relatively accurate representation.
Depictions of Impact
There’s no shortage of stories in the media about the most extreme outcomes of cyberbullying. But it’s also important to recognize that bullying can impact teenagers’ mental health in complex ways. There can be short-term symptoms of depression and anxiety, ranging from low mood and difficulty concentrating to suicidal thoughts. There can also be longer-term consequences, leading to substance misuse and other struggles in adulthood. This is why it is so important to ensure that teens gain support and guidance to bolster their mental wellness, including reassurance they’re not alone and access to therapy.
Films could be a powerful influencer for teens in this regard. Seeing realistic depictions of the more complex impacts of bullying can be an impetus for understanding what they’re going through and taking action. Unfortunately, these types of films seem to be few and far between.
For the most part, the appetite for drama in movies results in the most extreme portrayals of the impact of cyberbullying. The 2013 remake of Carrie is an obvious example in which cyberbullying alongside other issues leads to psychokinetic murder. But even ostensibly realistic films, such as Odd Girl Out (2005) and A Girl Like Her (2015) move relatively swiftly to suicide attempts rather than the wider variety of psychological outcomes bullying can trigger. While it’s true that suicide is an all-too-common result of cyberbullying, films aren’t necessarily best serving their audiences by overlooking the more dynamic impacts and potential solutions.
Conclusion
When used effectively, film can be a great tool for exploring social issues, such as cyberbullying. Some movies have shown an understanding of how disruptive the immersive nature of the online world can be, alongside the risks of suicide. However, many filmmakers don’t seem to be treating cyberbullying with the subtlety and nuance that could boost how realistic and helpful depictions can be.
It’s worth considering, though, that the rising generation of young filmmakers may prove to be better at this. As the first wave of digital natives, Gen Zers are more likely to have lived experiences of cyberbullying. The result of this could be more complex films about the problem and its solutions in the coming years.