Different types of bullying can put people in bad situations and result in terrible outcomes. Many people see bullying as bad but under-exaggerate how harmful it can get. The four main types of bullying are physical, verbal, social, and cyber.

First, physical bullying. This is when someone puts their hands on someone else. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching, and pushing or damaging property. This can result in both short-term and long-term damage. Physical bullying can make someone scared of people on a regular basis.

Second, is verbal bullying. This is when someone is being named-called, teased, intimidated, homophobic towards, made racist remarks to, or verbally abused. People who get verbally bullied are more likely to be introverted which can result in social anxiety and other mental health problems.

Third, social bullying. This is often referred to as covert bullying. It is harder to recognize and can be carried out behind the bullied person’s back. It was created to harm one’s social reputation and cause humiliation. Social bullying can include lying, spreading rumors, negative facial expressions or gestures, playing jokes to humiliate others, and excluding someone or ruining their social standing. This often makes the person who is getting bullied delete social media, go to online school, move schools, or get bullied by more people because of the potential rumors.

Finally, fourth, cyberbullying. This is defined as public and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, phones, and any other electronic devices. This may include hate comments, hateful texts, and other hurtful things on other online platforms or websites. This mainly makes someone very insecure about what they post or do. 

After all, bullying can really mess up someone’s mental health. Bullying results in more insecurities, fears, and, sometimes, death. If you are experiencing bullying, please tell an adult such as a parent, teacher, or counselor. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, here is the number to the Suicide Hotline, (988), available 24 hours a day, every day. Another resource is the crisis text line which can be contacted at (741741). We really need to eliminate bullying and normalize only saying and doing kind things.