As time flies by and the world becomes more technologically advanced the issue of cyber-bullying becomes more of an issue. Cyber bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. In this day and age it is beyond easy to get on the Internet. In fact, people can contact the Internet through cell phones, I pads, I touches, computers, and other technological devices. In a poll of 1,000 children, one third of teenagers ages 12 to 17 and one-sixth of children ages 6 to 11 have had mean, threatening or embarrassing things said about them online. Most of the bullying comes from social networks. These networks consist of mainly Myspace, Twitter, and the most popular Facebook. Unfortunately, these networks are not the only access to cyber-bullying. Aol (America online), aim (aol instant messenger), and even emails are very common ways in which people cyber-bully. Communities, friends, families, and the police are cracking down on cyber-bullying and are not taking the situation lightly. You never know when someone is going to act on a threat that is said to be a joke over the Internet. It cannot be taken lightly at all.
With the problem of cyber-bullying on the rise schools are now being faced with an important question. Who maintains the authority to monitor and reprimand students for these harmful situations? Where will the line be drawn between home life and school life? While districts are recognizing the problems that correspond with online bullying it is difficult for them to actually develop an authority while the students are at home.
There is no doubt that online banter is causing problems in many teen lives across the nation. In the most famous story from west Islip (http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-03-25/news/27059918_1_cyberbullies-social-networking-sites-police-probe) a teen who recently committed suicide is assumed, by some, to have done so because of teasing on the internet. While her parents do not believe this to be the case, it is important that internet usage becomes a monitored activity at home and in the classroom. This is such a tragic story and many believe that there is a need for some sort of regulation. In a related and more direct story (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3882520&page=1) a young student killed herself because she received several messages from a boy who “thought she was not a very nice friend”.
There is an obvious need to protect our youth from this form of abuse. (http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying) This article, provided by the national crime prevention council, highlights many ways in which we can encourage our students to promote positive internet usage among our students.
http://0-web.ebscohost.com.enterprise.sacredheart.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=112&sid=27ad180a-0b01-4a6f-b43d-7405cdd04028%40sessionmgr10&vid=5
It is unfortunate that so many children have complete access to everything over the internet. Cyber-bullying is not a joke and I have seen it first hand. It is awful and disgusting. I think that children are not being monitored enough or even at all. Children often think that what they say are just words. But words hurt. I definitely think that there needs to be more legal regulations regarding children and the internet. Children who commit suicide due to awful torturing comments makes me sick. Teachers need to teach children proper internet use and that what they say and write can have an immense impact on them and those around them.
When Encyclopedia Dramatica or the fork of it exists, trolling will forever be used for lulz! It is no one’s fault when parents don’t teach the lulz of trolling to their vulnerable children. Kids need to learn what’s cool and what’s not rather from their parents or their peers. If they don’t know, they will get hurt in the cruel world of the Internet. I’m sorry but that is life that everyone has to deal with not just people who are bullied.