Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.

This week Jasmine questions social media and morality

Is social media making bullying easier?

In Britain, 42 million people use some form of social media which equates to 67 per cent of the population.

With the rise in digital technology and the explosion of social media, it is easier to hide behind a screen and be anonymous.

It is easy to create a profile so no one knows who you are and you can do what you want without named.

But would those people who hide behind a screen and criticise and make fun of someone say the same to their target's face?

As a victim, you are able to be contacted at any time of day or night and it is harder for you to simply walk away.

There is no 24 hour supervision on social media so you have no way of staying safe.

Sixty-six per cent of people aged 15 to 24 use Instagram and with so many young people so easily accessible it is no wonder that cyber-bullying rates are going up.

If you were a victim of cyber-bullying, would you know what to do or how to seek help? Would you tell anyone? According to TeenSafe, 87 per cent of children and teenagers with social media have witnessed cyber-bullying.

But if you saw someone being bullied online would you step in or would you let it carry on?

We must all work together to stop cyber-bullying.

By Jasmine Taylor