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West Valley City Journal

Teen vlogger discusses cyberbullying at Hunter Library

Mar 13, 2018 05:19PM ● By Keyra Kristoffersen

“DIY with Misha” is a popular YouTube channel hosted by Utah teen, Misha. (Misha)

With the increase over the last two decades of Internet users, an increase in bullying those users has also swelled and teen YouTube video maker Misha of “DIY with Misha” is looking to educate other teens about dealing with cyberbullying during Teen Tech Month at Hunter Library on March 8. 

“We just want to make sure the message that cyberbullying is real bullying is out there and that it’s not OK and talk about how it impacts people and how we can overcome it if we have been bullied,” said Marinda Keller of the Hunter Library. 

When Misha began making her do-it-yourself videos for YouTube two years ago, she noticed that though she received a positive response at first, with more followers and views came more negative comments. 

“I had never been bullied in school so it was really new to me,” said Misha. “I didn’t know people could be this rude.”

With the toll it took on her self-esteem, viewers noticed the change in her normally happy videos and she finally reached out to her parents and friends. 

“When people started to notice that I was changing, I decided to help myself,” said Misha.

She got help and support from her loved ones and realized the people online she was receiving negative feedback from were not the opinions she valued. 

“I was able to realize that these people online don’t really know who I am,” said Misha, “so I shouldn’t worry about what they think of me.”

Realizing there were many other kids going through much worse circumstances, Misha has found a way to help them by bringing more awareness to the effects of bullying online by giving presentations around the Salt Lake valley. 

“I don’t think anyone is free from it, just like no one is really free from face-to-face bullying either,” said Keller, who paired the presentation with the month-long teen celebration of technology in March after Misha had visited the Sandy Library in 2017. “When you’re that young, you really take what people say about you to heart.”

Through a slideshow and roleplay activities, Misha will outline ways to identify if you are being cyberbullied, what it is, how it works and ways to help yourself and others. The presentation will talk about deleting comments and responding or ignoring the bullies and the different ways that interaction can go. 

Since beginning her anti-bullying campaign, Misha said her confidence has grown. 

“Now I feel like I don’t need to care what other people think because I know that a lot of people care about what I do and I’m making an impact on other people and that’s really what matters to me,” said Misha. 

Misha started making her DIY craft and decorating videos in middle school and began posting on YouTube when she hit high school. She plans to expand her passion to include challenges and collaborate with other YouTube posters. 

“I get a lot of comments on my Instagram too from people saying I’ve really helped them understand what cyberbullying is,” said Misha. 

With other technology-based activities at each of the county library locations, a $10,000 60-day immersion scholarship to DevPoint Labs studying Full Stack Web Development is being awarded through an online contest. Teens 13-18 years old can submit art, videos and stories about the theme “Libraries are for Creating.” 

For more information, visit: http://www.slcolibrary.org/le/lesp/index.htm