“Since [the rise in] social media we would have seen, at minimum, a 20 per cent increase in referrals for depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation and neglect, poor self-esteem and worst of all, suicidal ideation.”  “Social media is now part of people’s identities, so it is a genuine attack on who they are, especially for younger people who have grown up with it.”

Social media allows us to find like-minded people from around the world.  It can provide geographically isolated young people with a way to connect with others that have similar interests and values.  However, it also has the ability to be a tool that delivers stark isolation.  People living in regional areas of Australia are experiencing cyberbullying at a rate that is twice that of people in metropolitan areas. And, much of this bullying is targeted young girls and is sexual in nature.

Here is an article looking at cyberbullying in regional areas:

http://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/4753489/rise-in-cyber-bullying/