In 1995 the world wide web, also called the Internet, was made, although the Internet may be found all the way back in 1958. The internet used to be the place the nerds hung out when it first started now everyone is on the internet. By the millennium the web became a world wide phenomenon. You may now order pizza from your computer talk to your girlfriend or boyfriend, and even play a game with a friend in another country. With this new technology also comes with it a whole new set of crimes, such as stalking, hacking, cyber bullying, identity theft, and crimes of a sexual nature. The internet has opened up a whole new door for crime, it has also made it easier for crimes to be committed. This is why I think that there should be stricter laws against cyber bullying because no one deserves the treatment that kids like Amanda Todd got.
One of the most talked about Cyber crimes is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is done through the computer or through text by an individuals cohort. It used to be that when you were bullied at school you were safe at home. Things have changed now you are no longer safe at home the bullies may follow you home through the computer by texting you on your phone or commenting you on face book. There has been many young victims to cyber bullying that have led to them committing suicide.
After scanning through a lot of forums about cyber bullying I noticed people saying things like “Just block them.” and stuff like “These kids today have no backbone.” Which leads me to believe this crimes is not taken as seriously as it should be. Adults see it as children being children and kids see it as a little harmless fun. But the people who don't see it as these things are the victims ...
... middle of paper ...
...ow what there child is doing and if they are being bullied or not.
Works Cited
Cyber Bullying Statistics." - Bullying Statistics. N.p., 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 5 Apr. 2014. .
"Prevent Cyberbullying." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. .
Frederick, susan, and jennifer Arguinzoni . "CYBERBULLYING AND THE STATES."http://www.ncsl.org/. N.p., 9 July 2010. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. .
Grenoble, Ryan. "Amanda Todd: Bullied Canadian Teen Commits Suicide After Prolonged Battle Online And In School."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. .
By having cyberbullying grow, people are starting to make new laws and make it a federal crime. It’s a lot harder to get rid of cyberbullying, because there are so many social media sites where it can be found. With just a mean effortless tweet, comment, or message it can be a toll on somebody’s life. Statistics show that “20% of youth ages 11-18 have been victims of cyberbullying.” Most teens do cyberbullying, because they think it’s funny, or they just think that person deserves it, but what teens don’t get is what consequences lie
Kowalski, Robin, and Susan Limber. Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2008.
“Over the course of three months, Prince was verbally abused — publicly and in Facebook posts. She was threatened with physical abuse and received hostile text messages. On the last day of her life, Jan. 14, 2010, some of her tormentors drove by in a car, called her an Irish slut, and suggested that she go kill herself. She did.” (Huus). Phoebe Prince was an ordinary High School teenager who wanted nothing more than to fit in and live a normal teenage life, but because of harassment and embarrassment her life was cut short. Instead of focusing on how to prevent this type of bullying, people are focusing on how to punish the bully and deal with the incident after it happens. The internet is a fairly new thing, and it is not going away anytime soon; therefore, students need to be educated on cyberbullying and somehow shown how it can impact their life or someone else’s. Also students should be monitored when using computers and other technology that allows them access to the internet, and students need to take responsibility while facing the consequences for their actions online.
Hoffman, Jan. “Online Bullies Pull Schools Into The Fray.” New York Times 27 June 2010
In recent decades, there have been numerous technological advances. Due to the availability of such advances, the use of this technology, particularly the use of Internet, is overwhelmingly present in our society for people of all ages. For instance, 93% of teenagers, ages 12 through 17 use the Internet, matching the 93% of young adults. Whereas, 74% of adults, ages 18 and older, use the Internet (Lenhart et al, 2010). Studies found that adult users over the age of 18 consider the Internet as a means of completing tasks such as shopping and paying bills, in comparison to those under the age of 18 who considers it a tool for social connections (Bhat, 2008). About 73% of teenagers and young adults as well as 47% of adults use social networks, the most commonly used being Facebook (Lenhart et al., 2010). The use of the Internet is not only limited to that of computers considering cell phones now offer mobile Internet. A large number of the population have cellphones, with 58% of 12 years old, 75% of teenagers, and 93% of adults owning cell phones (Lenhart et al, 2010). With advances in technology and its increased use, we have become perpetually in contact with one another, opening ourselves up to a new form of bullying: cyber bullying.
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).
The article “The New Bully at School” has deeply influenced me that schools should be responsible for punishing cyberbullies if it becomes criminal or hurtful. One powerful reason is that cyberbullies should get the same punishments as traditional bullies. Threatening actions from both bullies could become harmful, both mentally and physically. Therefore, cyberbullies should be punished when it becomes criminal and causes a serious dilemma and constant pestering. The article states, “Does that mean cyberbullies can get away with anything? No, not when cyberbullying is an actual crime. Cyberbullying is criminal when it involves threats of violence, stalking, hate crimes, obscene text messages, or extortion” (Chen 21). Moreover, schools should
Hinduja, Sameer, and Justin W. Patchin. Cyberbullying Research Summary. N.p.: Cyberbullying Research Center, n.d. PDF.
Bullying has been around forever, however with today’s technology bullying has become easier than ever. It is easier to bully in cyberspace than it is to bully face to face. With cyberbullying a bully can pick on people with much less risk of being caught. Bullies are natural instigators and in cyberspace bullies can recruit the participation of additional students who may be unwilling to bully in the real world. Cyberbullying is any harassment that occurs over the Internet. Vicious discussion posts, name calling in chat rooms, posting fake profiles on web sites, and cruel email messages are all ways of cyber bullying. Cyberbullying can be more serious than conventional bullying. At least with conventional bullying, the victim is left alone on evenings and weekends. Many people may think that cyberbullying is not a problem in life; well, think again, it can change a victim’s life forever by just one offensive comment about them. It will make the victim want to commit suicide, drop out of school, and suffer from self-esteem issues like depression and anxiety. We must fight for what is right, the sooner the better. The movement into the digital age has change the behaviors and interactions of minors and it is time our culture to rethink its relationship with the Web and social networking.
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.
Cyber-bullying can occur at anytime, and anywhere through cell phones, text messaging, videos, emails, blogging, Facebooks, Instagram and more. With all the different communication channels and social medias, It can be used to insult, spread rumors, impersonate, and
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.
All around the United States, the prevalence of cyberbullying ranges from 10-40% of people who get bullied through electronics. Furthermore, this is a problem caused by kids, teens, and adults who target one another online by repeating harmful threats and harassments. This conflict negatively impacts the victims’ life which is why anyone who cyberbullies should pay the consequences and be prosecuted.
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...
Jacobs, Judge Tom. Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End and Consequences Begin? Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 2010. Print.