Preventing Cyber-Bullying And Trolling

1537 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effect of social media on young people

"Jumping off GW bridge sorry." That was the last status update Tyler Clementi ever posted to his Facebook page before leaping to his death off the George Washington Bridge in New York City. A month before his suicide, Tyler, who was gay, started his freshman year at Rutgers University and was housed with a roommate who did not approve of homosexuals. Unbeknownst to Tyler, his roommate began to electronically spy on him and eventually recorded him kissing a man. The roommate then posted the video to YouTube and soon Tyler’s fateful and heartbreaking Facebook status would follow (Cloud). Unfortunately, stories like Tyler’s have become more common as bullying has made the leap from the playground to the massive new world of social media. With forty percent of teenagers using social media claiming they have been cyber bullied at least once (Billitteri “Cyberbullying”), the trend of teenage bullying through social media has become harder to ignore. The anonymity of online profiles has contributed to the rise of cyberbullying while easy access to social media applications and devices has contributed to its ability to spread quickly. The type of response from those in authoritative roles along with inadequate laws has also created an environment that breeds bullying. While some point out that bullying would still happen without social media, or that it is awareness rather than the actual number of incidents growing, cyberbullying via social media is still a serious issue that needs addressing.
The anonymity of online comments allows bullies to harass others without worrying about their identities being revealed and can lead some to make comments they would never say in person. According to stopbullying.gov, “Cyberbullying messages and ...

... middle of paper ...

... personal responsibility and not bullying themselves and offer support to others suffering from it.

Word Count: 1,722

Works Cited
Billitteri, Thomas J. "Preventing Bullying." CQ Researcher 10 Dec. 2010: 1013-36. Web. 23
Oct. 2013.
---, Thomas J. "Cyberbullying." CQ Researcher 2 May 2008: 385-408. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
Cloud, John. "Bullied To Death?." Time 176.16 (2010): 60-63. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
Mary Madden, Amanda Lenhart, Maeve Duggan, Sandra Cortesi, Urs Gasser. “Teens and
Technology 2013”. Pew Internet & American Life Project 13 Mar. 2013. pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx. Web. 11 Nov. 2013
NICOL, SARAH. "Special Feature / Cyber-Bullying And Trolling." Youth Studies Australia 31.4
(2012): 3-4. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. stopbullying.gov. US Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 23 Oct. 2013

Show More
Related

  • Teenage Suicide: A Harsh Reality of Technology’s Hand in Today’s Bullying

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    .... Victims of direct, indirect, and cyber-bullying have an entirely new gamut of bullying to cope with, and are forced to manage their emotions in this same public arena as well. Teenagers are finding it difficult to escape or remove themselves from such public harassment, and in response, suicide is increasingly the outcome with many adolescents gravitating toward suicide pacts as well. Unfortunately, technology is not always a beautiful advance, ultimate luxury or everyday convenience. Technology has indeed aided and contributed to the demise of many. It will be of no miraculous wonder should this next decade see a dramatic swing in the cause of teenage suicide from depression and drugs to bullying. The author of the age-old proverb of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” obviously never had such words plastered on Facebook.

    Read More

  • Cyberbullying: A Rising Concern in the Digital Age

    1770 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cyberbullying is no exception to this statistic. The two writers also stated that “There have been several high-profile cases involving teenagers taking their own lives in part because of being harassed and mistreated over the Internet (Apollo, 2007; Halligan, 2006; Jones, 2008), a phenomenon recently termed cyberbullicide—suicide indirectly or directly influenced by experiences with online aggression,” (Hinduja and Patchin, 2007). These cases are not a constant issue in every school, but they have happened frequently enough to raise attention to faculty and parents. With adolescents being at such a sensitive age, it is important to remind them that the actions they take can have serious consequences, including

    Read More

  • Negative Effects from Technology Use on Teens

    1701 Words  | 4 Pages

    Technology use was on the rise but has shown a significant increased rate in recent years. Technology was a beneficial tool that was used on a daily basis. Technology industries had developed many devices like computers, laptops, smartphones, iPods, and many other devices that made technology easier to access from anywhere and anytime. Technology expanded every day and the usage increased which had an effect on society especially targeting teens. Teens abused the use of technology that caused them to have serious problems mentally and physically. Teens mainly focused on technology use and caused a social disconnection from the real world. Technology use has a negative effect on teens by causing health problems and social disconnection.

    Read More

  • Social Empathy

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    A lack of empathy is found in the growing trend of cyber-bullying. "Jumping off GW bridge sorry." That was the last status update Tyler Clementi ever posted to his Facebook page before leaping to his death off the George Washington Bridge in New York City. About a month before his suicide, Tyler, who was gay, had started his freshman year at Rutgers University and found himself housed with a roommate who was not at ease with those who were open with their homosexuality. Unbeknownst to Tyler, his roommate began to electronically spy on him and eventually recorded him kissing a man. The roommate then posted the video to YouTube and soon Tyler’s fateful and heartbreaking Facebook status would follow (Cloud). The combination of the roommates inability to empathize with Tyler’s lifestyle with the ease of communicating to a broad audience online, proved to be a deadly combination. Unfortunately, stories like Tyler’s have become more common ...

    Read More

  • The Sociological Effects Of Cyberbullying

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    This sort of phenomenon makes major headlines regularly in recent times and effects a clear majority of today’s youth. State and local lawmakers have taken steps to prevent this type of bullying by making illegal under several criminal law codes. Michele Hamm, a researcher in pediatrics explained, “There were consistent associations between exposure to cyberbullying and increased likelihood of depression.” Cyberbullying became widespread among students with the rapid growth in use of cellular devices and the Internet. With this kind of technology bullies have the ability to send harmful messages to their recipients at any given time. This type of bullying is the hardest to control because it involves students but often happens off school grounds. However, because the evidence is material, students and parents could bring this evidence to the school and local police departments if a situation were to happen. Parents should be mindful of their child’s use of the internet and electronic messaging, cyberbullying usually takes place in a medium in which adults are seldom present (Mason, 2008). Also, instead of sending direct messages to other students, bullies use platforms such as social media and anonymous blogs to post harmful things for others to see. Educators must understand the significance of social media use to their students, especially

    Read More

  • We Need Harsh Punishments for Cyberbullying

    2253 Words  | 5 Pages

    The playground bully is a classic figure in the life of children. Shoving, pushing, pinching, name-calling, and dirt-throwing are some of its favorite pastimes. In the modern world, however, bullying is moving to another arena, one much more sophisticated and secretive than the jungle gym. Bullying that takes place online, or cyberbullying, is a growing area of concern among the younger generations. Recent events have thrown cyberbullying, rather unceremoniously, into the spotlight. After being relentlessly tormented online for ten months, Rebecca Sedwick, a twelve-year-old girl from Florida, committed suicide by jumping from the roof of a defunct concrete plant on September 10, 2013. Two teenage girls, Katelyn Roman and Guadalupe Shaw, both older than Rebecca, were charged with felony aggravated stalking upon further investigation into Rebecca’s death. These charges were dropped the week of November 18, 2013, with prosecutors unable to compensate for “a lack of evidence” (Kemp). The controversy over saddling minors with a felony charge caused quite a stir in the media. The correct response to cyberbullying is a growing area of contention. In some cases, criminalization is preferred, while other bullies are slapped on the wrist and grounded for a month. What can be agreed upon is the need for a definitive policy. Cyberbullying, as a burgeoning field of abuse directed specifically at teens, requires direct, speedy, and, perhaps even harsh, measures to curtail the stream of mistreatment flowing freely online.

    Read More

  • How to End Cyber Bullying

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cyber bullying can be more terrifying than standard bullying, because the target typically does not know who is after them. Cyber bullies believe that because they are posting anonymously or not using their names, they can get away with anything. The case is that Internet activity is traceable. It is important to know that cyber bullying can be charged as crimes. In some cases, cyber bullies will be charged as sexual predators and have to be on the registry. Furthermore, items posted on the Internet can affect the person’s ability to get into university or employment.

    Read More

  • Bullying in New Zealand Schools

    3111 Words  | 7 Pages

    ... not giving them the resources to deal with bullying, because for the most part schools are under resourced. However, children have the right not to be bullied at school. It has negative consequences for both their mental and physical health, immediately and in their futures. Governments, schools, teachers and parents have an obligation to work collaboratively to ensure that children's rights are upheld. There needs to be progressive change towards resourcing our schools with the tools to help prevent and respond to bullying. Equal rights between adults and children is questionable, the power imbalance that is created has a significant negative impact on a child's right to be free from harm and their right to participate in school. Moreover, as a society we have a moral obligation to reflect on the social pressures we are creating, that our children have to face.

    Read More

  • Freedom of Speech in the Era of Cyber Bullying

    1941 Words  | 4 Pages

    As we are living in the age of technology, we are seeing our youth being victimized by a new phenomenon of bullying, called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as the use of information and communication technologies such as email, cell phones and pager text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal Web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group, which is intended to harm others. Cyberbullying can also employ media such as PDAs, blogs, and social networks (Beckstrom, 2008). This form of bullying is progressive because it can happen instantly due to the technology involved, whereas traditional bullying tends to take longer to evolve and happens

    Read More

  • Technology and entertainment is Always On

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    Zickuhr, Kathryn. "Teens And Tech: What The Research Says." Young Adult Library Services 12.2 (2014): 33-37. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Ways to Prevent Cyberbullying

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Technology means that bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards or street corners. As technology use begins to increase, so does cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology may include devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Chris Rowan states the obvious, commenting “a mere 20 years ago, children used to play outside all day, riding bikes, playing sports and building forts” (The Impact of Technology 1). Because so many kids are caught up in the latest technology and no longer care about playing outside, it is much easier to access the internet and therefore talk, and even harass, other kids. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying doesn't require physical strength or face-to-face contact. Many kids say things online to others they would never say in person— this is why cyberbullying is so popular; kids want to feel big and bad, in control, and superior to their peers. The only way to feel like this is to be feared by others.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Social Media on Children and Adolescents

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    The cons of social media can be very risky, especially when the youth of this society is partaking in it. Children and adolescents are now known for inappropriate content on social media sites or just simply not understanding the concepts of privacy. A nationwide issue that has been addressed is the action of cyberbullying. This action often leads to harmful circumstances such as suicide attempts, with some being successful. In just one state in the U.S., 1,491 high school students that were the “cyber bullies” were related to suicide attempts and about 4,693 students were rel...

    Read More

  • Cyber Bullying

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stutzky suggests that cyber bullying is the use of modern communication technologies to embarrass, humiliate, threaten, or intimidate an individual in the attempt to gain power and control over them. Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. These days however, bullying isn’t just happening on the playground, it’s happening on the internet and mobile phones, making it possible to bully a child 24 hours a day. Cyber bullying follows children around the clock and into the safety of their own bedrooms. A recent survey by MindOh!, an educational company that follows youth trends, reported that nearly 80% of the 5,500 teens that were surveyed said that they had been exposed to cyber bullying. Cyber bullying affects the mental health of so many young adolescents around the world, and the issue is steadily increasing as more and more ways to bully are created.In extreme incidents, cyber bullying has led teenagers to suicide. Most victims, however, suffer shame, embarrassment, anger, depression and withdrawal. While technology continues to evolve, new means of communication enable today’s bullies to become more effective in terrorizing and tormenting their victims. The aim was to increase awareness and decrease the prevalence of cyber bullying- Year 9 at Meridan State College being the stakeholders (people involved).

    Read More

  • Cyber Bullying And Cyber Crime

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the development in technology cyber bullying and cyber crimes became a serious issue. Cyber bullying is terms as the use of electronic means of communication so as to bully an individual and most typically it occurs when one sends messages that are threatening or of an intimidating nature (Florence, 2014). Cyber crime on the other hand refers to crime that involves a network and a computer and in regard to this the computer or network may be the target (Study.com, n.d). Cyber bullying and cyber crimes are well known problem in the world but they aren’t noticed like bullying and crimes but they can be harmful and serious.

    Read More

  • Negative Effects of Technology

    2086 Words  | 5 Pages

    Madden, Mary. "Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project." Teens and Technology 2013. Pew Research Center, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. (3)

    Read More

More about Preventing Cyber-Bullying And Trolling

Open Document