Cyber Bullying

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In 2003, a fifteen years old, dropped out of school after a few of his classmates found a video of him and posted it on the internet (Harmon, 2003). Three years earlier, a fourteen year old girl hung herself after receiving threatening phone calls from classmates (CBC News Online, 2005). In the school year 2005-2007, some of eight million students said they were bullied at school, and about nine thousand or so said they were cyber-bullied. According to Dr. Shaheen Sharif of McGill University says “cyber bullying consist of being bullied through camera phones, text messages, web sites and online chat rooms”(Sharif & Gouin,2005 3). Cyber-bullying is on the rise because more children are using the computer. In 2005 a study showed that thousands of students of all ages have access to the internet. Children use the World Wide Web to chat with friends and socialize and meet new people. Even though children are still going to be bullied in the real world, a research says that thirty percent of students are being bullied; the majority is through the internet. Cyber bullying is complicated whereas the school and the police are involved. Oppose to the real world bullying occurs mostly on school grounds, teachers and principals often take action, but online bullying usually occurs off school property, being difficult for schools to step in. Often bullies pick on people who look different, homosexual, gifted or disable (Sharif & Gouin, 2005 3-4). The internet can be a perfect tool for harassing others because it offers bullies access to their victims as many times as they want. The power of the internet means the vicious messages can be seen to millions of people worldwide. The more people that get involved makes the bullying even worse. Res...

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...rovider. Victims should also ask to have their number changed and not give out to people they don’t know, just family.

Being a victim of cyber-bullying can be a scary and hurtful thing. Whenever you are being cyber-bullied always remember not to give out personal information especially over the internet, always tell a trusted person you’re being bullied and keep a track of the incidents that occur from start to finish. Remember don’t let someone scare you, intimidate you that you have to commit suicide. There’s always someone out there to help you with your situation.

Works Cited

CBC News Online (March, 2005) 18 May 2006

Harmon, A. (19 May 2003). Fame is no laughing matter for the Star Wars Kid. “New York Times” (Late Edition) Sec C. p.3

Sharif S. & Gouin, R. (2005), “School Libraries in Canada”, 2006, Vol. 25.Issue 4, p.17-22,6p

Web.ebscohost.com

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