Teenagers and Cell Phones

1344 Words3 Pages

Cell phone usage and bullying has gained much attention in the United States in recent years. When many of us hear the word Cyberbullying, we automatically relate it as something that happens only on the internet. Yet, the term includes the use of cell phones to communicate a threat, send an abusive text, send inappropriate pictures or make harassing phone calls to someone in order to scare or upset them. Unfortunately, this is another vice that negatively plagues our youth. Second on my list of inappropriate use of cell phones is when people use them as a tool to embarrass or exploit someone. Bullying of any kind is cruel, and no one should have to be a victim of it in any form. However, much like the internet, cell phones allow the transmission of embarrassing images or texts to many people in a matter of minutes. I believe that at some point, the majority of us, including our family and friends have been a victim of some form of bullying. In an effort to research just how serious teenage bullying is I explored the resources of a government ran website titled Bullying Staistics.Org. The website was established to help educate families, children and school administrators on the various types and outcomes of bullying. In addition, the site provides those who are bullied with the names of organizations, therapy groups and suggestions on how to cope. The site was instrumental in helping me with my research. According to the website, for most, bullying begins in the teen years. it is estimated that at least nine out of 10 teenagers have a cell phone, and the odds of those that will be bullied through cell phones is one out of five (bullying statistics.org). In addition and contrary to what I initially thought, the website stat... ... middle of paper ... ...one membership hits 91% of adults. Retrieved From: Web site: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/06/cell-phone- ownership-hits-91-of- adults Lowy, Joan. “National texting while driving ban: U.S. urges no Cell phones while driving.” The Huffington Post, 31 Dec. 2011. Web. Retrieved March 23, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/14/national- Texting-while-driving- ban_n_1147909.html Phillips, S. (2014). Teens sleeping with cell phones: A clear and present danger Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/blogs/teens-sleeping-cell-phones- clear-and-present-danger Price, M. (2011). [Web log message]. Retrieved February 12th, 2014 from: http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/features/2011/cell-phone-addiction.aspx

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