Cyber Bullying: The Latest Threat to Hawaii's Youth

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Hawaii's youth are growing up in a community where technology is constantly evolving. Social networks and cell phones are valued tools for communicating with friends and loved ones, meeting new people and coordinating events. The ability to communicate with others without confrontation has its advantages; however, some youth are using this opportunity for the bad, behaving inappropriately. Cruel, disheartening messages and comments are being sent to peers using various social networks. The content of these messages and comments threaten, harass, impersonate and/or mock the victim (Cyber). This type of behind-the-computer bullying is called cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying effects up to 50% of Hawaii's youth (Mendoza). Cyber bullying correlates directly to a drop in youth school attendance and grades, and increased suicide rates (Bullying FAQ). Victims of cyber bullying are 2.5 times more likely to binge drink; 2 times more likely to report depression; and 3.2 times more likely to attempt suicide. If schools educate their students, parents become more involved in their children's social network use and consequences are enforced, cyber bullying can be stopped.
Many schools do not educate or inform their students on the consequences and emotional effects bullying can have on others (Paullet and Chawdhry). Often times, if a case is brought up to a school staff member, the staff member will only relay the information to the victim's parent. Schools are failing to assist cyber bullying victims, and are not teaching students how to prevent cyber bullying and address it.
In 2011, Hawaii's governor created a new law regarding cyber bullying; all Hawaii schools are required to report cyber bullying incidents to the police (Poy...

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...o be enforced. If these solutions are put into action the problem of cyber bullying can be eliminated from Hawaii.

Works Cited
"Bullying FAQ." Mental Health Hawaii. Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
"Bullying Intervention Strategies That Work." Education World. Web.
4 Nov. 2013.
"Cyber Bullying." Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force." Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
Hart, Kevin. "Pennsylvania Schools Stand Up to Bullying." NEA Today. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.
Mendoza, Jim. "Cyber Bullying Affects 1 in 2 Hawaii Teens." Hawaii News Now. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
Paullet, Karen and Adnan A. Chawdhry. Raising Awareness: Education is The Key to Understanding Cyber Bullying. Education Special Interest Group of The AITP. 2012. Print.
Poythress, Katherine. "Hawaii Education System Could See Significant Changes In 2012." Charter School Administrative Office Hawaii. 2 July. 2012. Web.

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