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.
In order to develop such measures, cyberbullying must be recognizable. The government website dedicated to the prevention of bullying in general offers this definition: cyberbullying is “bullying that takes place using electr...
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Patchin, Justin W., Joseph A. Schafer, and Sameer Hinduja. "Cyberbullying and Sexting: Law Enforcement Perceptions." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. FBI, June 2013. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
Slifer, Stephanie. "Rebecca Sedwick Case: Atty Jose Baez Says 12-year-old Accused of Bullying Girl Who Committed Suicide is Being "Bullied by the System"." CBS Crimesider. CBS News, 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
---. "Rebecca Sedwick Update: Boy Reported to be at Center of Alleged Bullying Behind Fla. Girl's Suicide Speaks Out." CBS Crimesider. CBS News, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
---. "Rebecca Sedwick Update: Fla. Girls Accused of Bullying 12-year-old Who Committed Suicide Plead Not Guilty."CBS Crimesider. CBS News, 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
"What is Cyberbullying." StopBullying.gov. US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
The article “Girl’s Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by Cyber Bullies,” by Lizette Alvarez discusses the seriousness of cyber bulling and its effects on teenagers, specifically Rebecca Ann Sedwick. For starters, people are trying to raise awareness about teenagers driven to suicide since a 12 year old girl, Rebecca Ann Sedwick, committed suicide because she was terrorized on social media. As many people knew, Rebecca was brutally bullied online to the point where she had to leave school and go get help, but sadly the bulling started again once she returned, and this time she put on a “brave face” and didn’t tell anyone; untimely, she should have gotten adults to help her because she couldn’t handle the bulling on her own. In addition, social
The definition of bullying uses broad statements to define the actual meaning. Because of this, people may view the definition differently than others. Bullying can range from physical violence to verbal abuse to even cyberbullying. Most people do not realize how common cyberbullying actually is. Over half of teens and adolescents have been bullied online and almost the same number have engaged in the bullying (“Cyber Bullying Statistics”). Cyberbullying is becoming more and more prominent throughout this time period because of the technology continuing to expand around the world. Each year this statistic increasingly grows due to the technology
As a recently recognized form of bullying, cyber bullying also referred to as electronic or Internet bullying, is defined as “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” (Belsey, n.d., p. 8; Bonanno & Hymel, 2013). Cyber bullying is characterized by intimidation, harassment, victimization, and aggression toward others that occurs through email, chat rooms, instant messages, webs...
Context: Cyberbullying is a relatively new strain of bullying. With the Internet being at such easy reach and children and teenagers being so tech savvy, things such as a mean text or an unfriendly social media post is just a finger click away. “Cyberbullying is in simple terms, known as, bullying through the Internet. Whether it is through email, instant messaging, on a Web site through images sent digitally. Because cyberbullying is so new, it has caught the eyes of the press and educators recently. Cyberbullying has both similarities and differences of traditional bullying. There are also unique repercussions and ways of dealing with it. (Kowalski, Limber, and Agatston pg. 1-2).
Cyberbullying is the use of digital communications to torment others. It normally involves offensive comments or pictures that hurt others feelings. Bullying is becoming more seen in today’s society. School administrators need to find ways to prevent cyberbullying from happening. Individuals are being affected by the bullying and it is becoming very dangerous. Others believe it is the new way students communicate. They also think it is a problem because anyone can steal someone’s identity and say they are someone they are not. Schools need to prevent cyberbullying by suspending students because it is affecting innocent student’s learning ability.
Cyberbullying is an old concept just in a new world. Pre-Internet bullying involved socially engaged children and teenagers picking on their friends and other children in the school yard. Traditional discipline included detentions, phone calls to their parents, and some sort of reconciliation between the children involved. Today, however, the atmosphere for bullies has dramatically changed and the risk-reward balance has been significan...
Web tormenting online is a major issue in the USA in need of tending. Individuals of all ages can be harassed on social media sites without the consequence of their actions. Throughout the years, the issue has developed in elementary, middle, and high schools in America. School authorities in many states have met up in an attempt to stop cyber bullying in schools. Amanda Todd posted an unnerving video on YouTube. Todd’s told her story, she was being abused, bullied, harassed, and stalked in her neighborhood despite moving multiple times. Amanda narrated her silent story by explaining in her flashcards, how she was hurt from cyber bully and bullying. Todd was taken drugs and alcohol to forget her pain, humiliation, and how she was feeling inside.
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
The experiences of America’s youth has changed significantly over the last two decades. One of the greatest changes is the advancements and accessibility of technology. Although these advancements are beneficial to society; there are instances of dismay, especially as it pertains to bullying. Cyberbullying in resents years has become a hot topic because of the severity of some cases brought to the public’s attention. There are many reasons for cyberbullying and the results may be life-threatening.
McQuade, III, Samuel, James Colt, and Nancy Meyer. Cyber Bullying: Protecting Kids and Adults from Online Bullies. First Edition. Road West, Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2009. 47-49. Print.
Although cyberbullying is one of the biggest factors for teen suicide, it can take place almost anywhere at anytime, and it can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, this happened to Tom Mullaney, an intelligent, joyful fifteen-year-old boy with no history of being bullied. But all it took to shred his life apart was social media, six people, and threatening messages. One night, Tom received twelve threatening Facebook messages from six of his classmates. Later that night, Tom’s father found him in the shed at the back of the garden, hanged. Tom was cyber-lynched to suicide. Tom’s story is just one of the thousand of stories that talks about the impact that cyberbullying has on young teens. Although it could be seen as an invasion of privacy,
Within many states, law enforcement as well as government officials are beginning to examine the overall death and violence rate among bullying. Although there is not a set law labeled cyberbullying within itself, there are many laws that undergo the meaning of bullying through internet communication. Within the state of South Carolina, the Safe School Climate Act enacted by the General Assembly in 2006, promotes anti-bullying within school systems (South Carolina ). Within each section of the law, ways of bullying are described in which many refer to the act within the school itself rather than extracurricular occurrences. As mentioned, there are many violent and harmful acts done within cyberbullying cases that can lead to death. Throughout the United States, there has been many cases of suicide that have been caused by cyberbullying. While suicide is an individual choice, many are charged by law enforcement and government officials due to the act. Within the state of Florida, for instance, two girls of the age twelve and fourteen were charged with felonies as they were perpetrators of the death of one young girl. The victim, Rebecca, killed herself in regards to 15 girls over the span of time bullied her over social media and text messaging (Stanglin and Welch ). Throughout Rebecca’s story, many people were able to recognize the overall effects of
Cyberbullying should be a criminal offense because whether it’s bullying or cyberbullying, it still damages a person emotionally and physically. Admittedly, many will argue that it is crossing the line to force perpetrators behind bars when it is not even bullying, but some foul words thrown in social sites. However, there is no difference between cyberbullying and offline bullying when it is still an issue that constantly eats away at its victims, abusing them with hurtful words and messages. “The United States Department of Health and Human Services calculated the percentages of bullied victims, where 37% of teens have been physically bullied, while 52% of teens have been cyberbullied” (Cyber/Bullying Statistics). Studies shown indicate that there have been more cases of cyberbullying than offline bullying, whereas people believe that “cyberbullying is not real bullying” and “it is to speak out in what...
Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that takes place with the use of any electronic technology. Cyberbullying is a major problem affecting young people today. There are different types of cyberbullying. This topic comes as an interest to many people these days because bullying is very common and it can ruin a person’s life. These days, cyberbullying is considered a new form of bullying. It can happen over the internet by computer, mobile phone or any other electronic devices. Cyberbullying could involve any form of unpleasant words or pictures being displayed on the internet for others to see. It could also involve the spreading of lies about the victim on the internet. Many people are stepping up efforts to prevent bullying in the first place. Approximately half of U.S. students are impacted by traditional bullying each school day (Ross). Bullying peaks in middle school, then reduces in high school. Other types of bullying may involve the passing of notes behind someone’s back, rumors being whispered about someone, or being threatened in the internet. The most common types of cyberbullying include passing of humiliating photos, cell phone pranks, cyber stalking, impersonation, online slam books, and text wars. Bullies appear scary but truthfully they are the unhappy ones. Majority of bullies have been bullied by parents, siblings, or other young people. This may trigger them to bully and pick on other kids.
With technology progressing, students are moving past face to face hectoring, and are verbally bullying other through social media. Cyberbullying can sometimes become more harmful than verbal, physical, and emotional bullying due to victims, not feeling like they have an escape route because they are threatened repeatedly through text messages, e-mails, social media, etc. The worst part about cyberbullying is that the things posted can be anonymous; therefore, there is no blame for who posts what. A victim can suspect that someone is to blame for the actions done, but there is no proof to solve a possible ongoing issue. Cyberbullying and bullying are actually considered a crime when someone: physically assaults another person, gender or racism is talked about, violent or deadly threats are made, sexually texting, inappropriate photos, stalking,