‘Want to know all about social bullying and smart ways to protect yourself from bullies who are destroying your social life? Here are all the details you need to know about.

In this post, you will learn all about social bullying and how to protect yourself if it happens to you.

Once you learn all about these crucial details, you will be able to buffer yourself from the effects of social bullying.

This post is all about social bullying and steps you can take to protect yourself from it so that your self-esteem won’t take such a big hit.

Social Bullying

Social bullying is one of the worst kinds of bullying. Why? Because bullies not only attack you as a person, they also attack your existing relationships and undermine your ability to make friends.

Social bullies use tactics like gossip, spreading rumors, and launching smear campaigns to destroy your reputation. By putting you down in front of others, they cast you in a bad light.

Understand that social damage equals emotional pain and weakened self-esteem. However, if you’re a target of bullying, you can protect your social life! And there are many steps you can take to do it.

So, you must learn those steps and do everything possible to protect your social life. And when you do, you automatically protect your emotional health.

Here’s how you can protect your social life from relational bullies.

Follow these steps, and you’ll take the sting out of the bullying you suffer. And, you’ll safeguard your self-esteem, reputation, and your social life.

1. Establish relationships and make friends outside the bullying environment.

In other words, if you’re being bullied at school, make friends with kids who do not attend your school. If people bully you at work, make friends, and forge relationships with people outside your place of work.

When you establish connections outside the bullying environment, you do so in a safe place, away from your bullies. You don’t have to worry about bullies coming in behind you and influencing these people.

Therefore, you can make allies more safely and effectively.

2. Maintain distance from your classmates or coworkers.

The further away you stay from toxic people, the safer you’ll be. So, keep your distance. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t try to hunt you down. Some people are sick in the head.

But you will lessen your chances of encountering them.

3. Social Bullying:

Realize that your bullies, coworkers, and classmates aren’t the most important people in your life.

They’re not the only people in the world who’ve ever known you or will know you in the future. They’re the only group of people whose views of you are based on lies and false information.

So, realize these people should matter the least to you. Your friends and positive relationships are outside that toxic environment, and more positive relationships will come. I promise you!

“But how do you forge new relationships and social networks elsewhere?” You ask.

4. join interest groups, places of worship, clubs, communities, organizations, and classes.

For instance, you’re bullied in school. Although your classmates may intensely hate you, you can join a scout troop or a martial arts class.  Therefore, you will likely be very well-liked by all the kids there.

You may be ostracized at the workplace. However, you can join the American Legion if you are a veteran. You can also join a group at your church or a music club if you’re into music. And you can find wonderful friends and a supportive network there.

Also, you can also advocate for a cause, take an art class, or join a music club.

Just don’t tell anyone what you’re going through at school or at work. That stays where it belongs, in the bullying environment.

Take time for them to get to know you. The only places appropriate for bringing up what’s happening at work are religious and therapy groups.

But feel everyone out first. The goal is not to find a place to dump all your problems but to find one where you’re valued and respected.

5. Social Bullying:

Fake it.

Appear calm and confident even when you feel like you’re about to fall apart. Only talk honestly with your most trusted.

The last thing you want is to allow your bullies to see that they’ve gotten the best of you. Why? Because you’ll, in essence, only give them the psychological rewards they’re looking for.

As a result, they will bully you worse to get more of those rewards.

6. Don’t vent nor gossip.

Why? Because you will look as bad as your bullies. You’ll also look unstable. Distance yourself from your bullies.

They might notice it and accuse you of being stuck up or standoffish. However, what they think shouldn’t matter. Why? Because your focus is self-care.

And practicing self-care is of the utmost importance when you’re a target of bullying.

7. Social Bullying:

Befriend others who are bullied.

The old saying that “birds of a feather flock together” rings true. The Law of Similarity dictates that to find good friendships, you must establish common ground.

Understand that those who share similar experiences are more likely to develop close friendships. Humans are naturally drawn to those who share commonality.

Making friends means finding like-minded people to bond with. And nothing bonds humans like a shared contempt for the same things, people, and groups.

Therefore, developing connections with other targets is not only necessary but wise.

When you find others who the same bullies have bullied, it confirms that you aren’t alone in the fight. Additionally, it’s a juicy opportunity to make friends and allies.

But that’s not all! It reinforces the fact that you are not a bad person. It says that, despite what bullies and most others have told you, you can make friends.

It sends the message that you are a likable person and automatically discredits your bullies. Therefore, having friends who share the same experiences is a real self-esteem booster.

And these new friends might back you up the next time your bullies come looking for trouble.

Commonalities Attract

When targets unite, they share a sense of sameness and are therefore least likely to conflict with one another. Each target in the group finally feels understood.

Case in point, sameness will always attract people to one another. People tend to become friends with those most like themselves.

When you begin associating with others that the bullies have targeted, you immediately establish common ground. It is this common ground that quickly develops rapport.

Social Bullying:

A “Target Rich Environment”

If you’re a target of bullying and you find it difficult to make friends, you can create a “target-rich environment” for yourself by staying among other targets.

I cannot say this enough- we develop the best friendships with those who resemble us the most. We’re attracted to people with the same desires and pursuits.

If you can find common ground, developing a positive relationship will be a cake walk!

So, how do you know that there’s common ground before you even talk to the person?

You start by noticing how the person dresses. Are there any similarities? If the person is wearing a T-shirt with the logo or picture of a rock group you like, there’s a shared interest.

Moreover, if they only have a slight interest in the group, you, at least, share a love of rock and roll music.

What a person is doing also gives clues. Also, their posture gives many tells.

For example, if a person is sitting alone at the lunch table, slumps in their chair, and doesn’t interact much with others, you know they have low self-esteem. And low self-esteem comes from bullying and abuse.

So, don’t be afraid to go over and talk to them. You might be the friend they’re looking for!

8. Social Bullying:

Seek to Be A friend and not only to make one.

Zig Ziglar once quoted,

“If you go out looking for friends, you’re going to find they are very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”

Therefore, make friends for the right reasons and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results! You must be a friend before you can meet one.

9. Be Approachable.

Before you can make friends, you must also be approachable. How you do this is to smile and stand up straight. Never slump when standing, and don’t hunch in your chair when sitting.

Make good eye contact and be interested in others. Look confident. Talk to strangers by making small talk.

Also, take pride in your appearance. When you look good, you feel good.

10. Stop Caring what others think. 

Once you stop caring about others’ opinions, you will be bullied less and less until it finally stops altogether. And it will happen like magic!

Why? Because people will notice that you don’t care anymore. And when you don’t care, you’ll no longer react when they bully you.

Social Bullying:

In Conclusion

Making friends when you’re bullied and suffer social aggression is easier than you think. I’m living proof because I know from experience. As a result, I’ve gone from being bullied to being loved and respected.

My only regret is that I didn’t have this knowledge when I was in school.

This post was all about social bullying and the steps you can take to protect yourself from relational bullies so that you can begin enjoying friendships and close connections.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Social Bullying Examples: 7 Reasons Bullies Destroy Relationships

2. Relational Aggression: 12 Must-Know Reasons Bullies Use It

3. How to Stop Caring What People Think: 9 Powerful Steps

4. How to Make Friends When You Have None at School or at Work  

5. What Not to Share at Work When You Suffer Workplace Bullying