2025

Life Orientation Formal Assessment Task

Project
Cyberbullying
Term 2

Keasha

Johnson

Grade 12

Term 2
 LIFE ORIENTATION
TERM 2: PROJECTS (GRADE 12)
Name of Learner Keasha Johnson

Class 12A

Name of school Hout Bay Secondary High School

Topic/content of the project Democracy and human rights

Social and environmental responsibility

Activity Teacher HOD/School District/Cluster Provincial

Moderator moderator moderator
Mark Initial Mark Initial Mark Initial Mark Initial
Activity 1: 24
Activity 2: 20
Activity 3: 9
Activity 4: 16
Activity 5: 6
Activity 6: 6
Activity 7: 6
Activity 8: 3
Total: 90

Overall Feedback to learner:

Moderator Name Signature Date

Teacher/Marker
HOD/School
Moderator
District/Cluster
Moderator
Provincial Moderator
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents
Activity one: Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3
Activity 2: Review of Literature ............................................................................................................... 4
Activity 3: Data Gathering through survey and analysis of information collected ................................. 5
Activity 4: Findings .................................................................................................................................. 6
Activity 5: Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 8
Activity 5: Reflection ............................................................................................................................... 9
Activity 7: Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10
Activity 8: List of References ................................................................................................................. 10
Activity one: Introduction

1.1. Back in the days, bullies used to steal your lunch. Now, they just hit you online
with a rude comment or a meme. In my community called Hangberg, the
drama on Facebook than the streets. Only a few might speak up while the rest
just watch the chaos unfolds. Cyberbullying as become a silent epidemic in
my community, and the silence is part of the problem. The only time someone
speaks up is when it affects someone related or choose to them. Victims of
cyberbullying are always left unsupported making them feel more isolated.
There is a lack of education and awareness about the seriousness and
consequences of cyberbullying.
1.2. Legal frameworks in South Africa that addresses cyberbullying is The
Cybercrimes Act (NO.19 of 2020). This act criminalizes the use of electronic
communications to harm others. It covers a various number of crimes related
to cyberbullying such as online harassment, revenge porn, cyberstalking,
threats and racist messages. The POPI Act (NO.4 of 2013) it protects
people’s private or personal information from being shared without their
permission. Sharing someone’s personal information to embarrass, threaten,
or harm them are considered as illegal under this act. If their privacy is
violated, even on social media victims can take serious legal actions.
1.3. Cyberbullying has a negative impact on a learner’s academic performance.
These impacts are: learners may lose confidence in themselves, leading to
poor class participation and a drop in academic motivation. They may develop
a fear of being targeted may cause them to avoid school, resulting in missed
lessons. Over time the academic strain may lead to declining grades. In
several cases, some learners may even drop out of school to escape the
constant bullying.
1.4. Cyberbullying may cause a few effects on a learner’s mental well-being. It
affects them both emotional and psychological because cyberbullying often
leads to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in learners. The learner
may feel that there is no escape because the bullying is happening online and
they may feel that there is no escape. This can cause emotional stress that
can result in feelings of worthlessness, social
withdrawal, and serve cases of self-harm or suicidal
thoughts. The constant nature of the online
harassment can deeply affect their ability to feel safe.
It can also have an affect on their long- term mental
health. The effects of cyberbullying don’t always end
when the bullying stops, it has long-term
consequences. Learners can develop long-term health
issues such as chronic anxiety, post-traumatic stress,
and trust issues. To form healthy relationships and
function socially can also be impacted by cyberbullying. These psychological
wounds can be carried into their adulthood and negatively affect their future
without proper support.
Activity 2: Review of Literature

1. The meaning of cyber savvy is knowing how to use the internet safely and
responsibly, while being aware of online risks and protecting your personal
information.
2. The difference between social media footprint and cyberbullying is quite
simple. A social media footprint is the collection of traces a person leaves
on social media platforms such as posts, comments, photos, and interaction.
Cyberbullying on the other hand is the use of digital platforms to intentionally
harm, harass, or intimidate someone.
3. The challenges we may face when implementing the Department Of Basic
Educations policy changes to ensure fair outcomes for bullying victims in
South Africa are as following, lack of resources, why is that?, well because
many schools struggle with limited funding, which makes it difficult to
implement effective anti-bullying programs. Without enough money, it is harm
to train teachers properly or provide
adequate support for students who are
victims or bullying. Another challenge may
be due to cultural and social factors
because in some areas bullying might not
be seen as a serious issues, and people
may not fully understand its impact.
Cultural attitudes towards bullying can
make it challenging to gain support for
policy changes or to get everyone on board with anti-bullying efforts.
4. The 3 ways the media plays a role in reporting cyberbullying, raising
awareness, the media informs the people what cyberbullying is and badly it
can affect someone. It also teaches us how to spot the signs and how we
should deal with it early. Promoting Accountability, when the media reports
on cyberbullying, it puts pressure on schools and social media platforms to
take action. It also shows where rules or laws might not be walking, which can
lead to better policies. Supporting victims, sharing real stories gives victims
a voice and helps them feel less alone. It also encourages others going
through the same thing to speak up and get help.
5. Three roles of the media in challenging societal norms that contribute to
cyberbullying. Promoting positive behavior, the media can share stories
that encourages respect and kindness online. It shows that bullying isn’t cool
or acceptable, and helps shifts peoples mindsets. Breaking stereotypes, it
challenges the way people judge others based on things like gender, looks, or
race. By showing different types of people in a positive light, it helps fight the
idea that everyone needs to fit one “standard”. Starting conversations, the
media opens up space for people to talk about cyberbullying and how it
affects them. It helps people feel less alone and more confident to speak up
or ask for help.
Activity 3: Data Gathering through survey and analysis of information
collected

Trends: all my responses said yes they know someone that was cyberbullied and
provides the platforms where the person they know was bullied on like Facebook
and WhatsApp’s. The trend I pick up is that since all participants are from Hangberg
its clear cyberbullying is a common issue among learners, mostly taking Facebook
and WhatsApp. The fact that all respondents know someone affected shows how
deeply the problem runs in the community, especially when
digital conflicts are tied to real-life relationships. This highlights
the urgent need for both school and community action to
address it.
Patterns: these responses are all from learner that are in grade
11-12. All responses choose “implement strict anti-
cyberbullying policies with clear rules and consequences” in
Question 5, meaning they all take an interest in making their
school a safe space. All response know someone that has experienced cyberbullying
and most of them choose Facebook as the social media platform in which the person
they know was bullied and the other answer was instant messaging apps which they
chose WhatsApp, meaning there was a lot of bullying the was taking place in this
community. All of the learners are from one community/area and they all choose by
question 7 about the number of community programs that work to prevent or address
cyberbullying, they all chose the same answer which is 1-2, meaning there isn’t a lot
of cyberbullying programs in the community. There are eight grade 12s and two
grade 11s.
 Key Insight: there are a few response that correspond with another. I have 10
response in which by question 6 all 8 responded said “yes” that parents can play a
role in preventing cyberbullying, and there’s 2 that said “No. The response of the
two was:
1. “Because some children hide their online activities from their parents and
don’t feel comfortable speaking to them.”
2. “I believe preventing cyberbullying depends more on the individuals choices
and value’s rather than parental involvement”
These two “no” response shows a lack of trust or communication between children
and their parents, and a belief in personal responsibility over parental control. Due to
this type of behavior parents can’t step in early to recognize signs of cyberbullying or
prevent it. Victims that don’t speak or trust their parents are less likely to report
bullying.

Figure 1 Age of the participant of the survey

Activity 4: Findings

1. The following factors contribute to the prevalence of cyberbullying in South

Africa:
- Lack of digital literacy, many South Africans, especially in under-
resourced areas, have limited etiquette. This makes them more vulnerable
to falling for online scams, sharing personal information, or unknowingly
participating in harmful behavior. Without proper digital education, users
may not recognize cyberbullying or know how to respond or report it,
allowing it to spread easily.
- Socio-economic inequalities, high levels of poverty and inequality in
South Africa contribute to feelings of anger, frustration, and social
exclusion. Some individuals may use the internet as an outlet to express
these emotions, often in the form of cyberbullying. Additionally, those in
disadvantaged communities may lack access to support systems such as
counseling or digital safety resources, making it harder to prevent or stop
cyberbullying.
2. The community has a responsibility in effectively addressing cyberbullying to
create safer and healthier living environments. Education and awareness
campaigns in communities/Hangberg, the community has a key role in
educating young people and families about the
dangers of cyberbullying. Local schools, churches,
and community groups can run workshops that
teach leaners how to use social media responsibly
and how to deal with online bullying. However,
many young people in Hangberg which is my
community access the internet without guidance, so
raising awareness can reduce harmful behavior
behavior and promote kindness and respect online.
Support and reporting systems, communities/Hangberg needs strong support
systems for cyberbullying victims. Community leaders, teachers, and parents
should work together to create safe spaces where youth feel comfortable
reporting bullying. Local NGOs and social workers can also provide
counselling and helping families take action. By standing together and taking
cyberbullying seriously, the people of Hangberg can build a safer, healthier
environment where everyone feels protected and respected.
Activity 5: Recommendations

Two solutions that communities can implement to eliminate cyberbullying to create

safer and healthier living environments and the impact of these two solutions are:
1. Community led anti-cyberbullying campaigns. People in my community
Hangberg as well as other communities that love to host events or be part of it
can use that spirit to launch anti-cyberbullying campaigns. These can include
posters around the community, social media challenges that promote
kindness, and even school competitions where learners create skits or videos
about standing up to cyberbullying.
Impact: This would raise awareness in a fun and engaging way, get people
talking, and help change how we treat each other online, especially among
the youth.
2. Involve local role models or Influences. We can ask local leaders, artists,
or even older leaders who are respected to speak out against cyberbullying.
When young people see someone they look up to talking about online
respect, it hits differently, it feels real.
Impact: This could inspire younger kids to think twice before bullying online
and also encourage victims to speak up because they know they are
supported by their role models.
Activity 6: Reflection

As a leaner at Hout Bay High School, I have personally witnessed the impact of
cyberbullying in my school and in my community of Hangberg. On platforms like
Facebook, learners sometimes post things about others that are meant to
embarrass, hurt, or humiliate them publicly. What makes it worse is that once
something is posted, everyone sees it, shares it, and comments on it, making the
victims feel isolated and ashamed. This kind of bullying is not just a joke, it’s serious.
It affects people emotionally and mentally. Some learners stop coming to school or
become very quiet because of what’s said about them online.
In my opinion, I feel that cyberbullying in our schools and communities is very
common and not taken seriously until it’s too late. In Hangberg, where many young
people are dealing with different circumstances, cyberbullying adds even more
pressure.
When it comes to human rights, I believe everyone has the right to dignity and to feel
safe, both in person and online. As someone who understands how serious this
issues is, I will always stand when I see someone is being bullied. These actions
reflect the values in the Bill of Rights, which talks about equality, dignity and the right
to be protected from harm. Everyone has the right to be treated equally, it does not
matter who they are or where they come from. They also have the right to be
protected from harm, so if you see someone being bullied help them and report the
incident.
It’s not just about punishing the
bullies, but about teaching kindness,
respect and accountability online. If
we can do that especially in our
schools, we can start creating a safer
space for everyone in our community.

Figure 2 community of Hangberg

Activity 7: Conclusion

Based on the data gathered, cyberbullying is a serious and widespread issue in the
Hangberg community, particularly on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. All
participants in the survey reported knowing someone who has experienced
cyberbullying, which highlights its high prevalence among learners. The findings
show that cyberbullying negatively affects learners’ academic performance,
emotional well-being, and mental health-leading to anxiety, depression, and even
social withdrawal. While learners believe parents and schools should play a role in
prevention, a lack of trust and communication between youth and adults creates
barriers. Additionally, the limited number of community programs and support
services shows that existing efforts are not sufficient. These results directly support
the research objectives by confirming the urgent need for stronger education,
improved support systems, and active community involvement to reduce
cyberbullying and its long-term effects.

Activity 8: List of References

Bibliography
chengyan zhu, s. h. (2021). cyberbullying among adolescents and children: a comprehensive review
of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. frontiers in public health.

Robin M, K. S. (2008). cyber bullying: bullying in digital age. Malden, Massachusetts: wiley-blackwell.

Smit, D. (2015). Cyberbullying in south african and american schools: a legal comparative study.
pretoria: foundation for education science and technology .

Uche, A. (2023, june 10). make use of . Retrieved from what does it mean to be cybersavvy?:
https://www.makeuseof.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-cybersavvy/