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Impacts of technology
Impacts of technology
Social problems of bullying and suicides
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Since Teen Suicide is the second leading cause of teenage death in the United States, there is a need for legislation that promotes awareness and education about Cyber-Bullying. by R. Hassan February 8, 2011 Fourth Period Mr. Cicala Robinson Secondary School Since Teen suicide is the second leading cause of teenage death in the United States, there is a need for legislation that promotes awareness and education about Cyber-Bullying. Due to the growth of technology in the American society, the younger generations of adolescents are adapting to the excessive use of computers, cell phones, and social-networking sites. According to a study done by Amanda Lenhart, 87% of adolescents who are between the ages of 12 and 17 are using the internet on a daily basis (Trolley, Shields, and Hanel, “Demystifying and Deescalating Cyber Bullying in the Schools”).With these numbers increasing across the nation, the numbers of adolescents being harassed through technology means is growing as well. The relationship between cyber bullying and teenage suicide has been named “cyber bullycide”. Studies show that 1/3 of teenagers who have used the internet have stated that they have received threatening or offensive messages either through text, e-mail, IM, and other technology related programs. In 2007 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially labeled “electronic aggression” being cyber bullying as an “emerging public health problem” (Billitteri 387). Traditional bullying that used to occur commonly on school-grounds has now been over shadowed by harassment through the Internet and other technology related devices. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary “cyber bullying” is defined as ... ... middle of paper ... ...ying." CQ Researcher 2 May 2008: 385-408. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. "Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2011. Colt. James P. "Cyber Bullying Case Raises Questions about Privacy Laws: Background." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. Greenya, John. "Bullying." CQ Researcher 4 Feb. 2005: 101-24. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. McQuade, Samuel C. "research on cybercrime." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2011 "Obama Pushes 'Zero Tolerance' for Online Harassment." PC Magazine Online 15 Oct. 2010. General OneFile. Web. 21 Jan. 2011. Trolley, Barbara, Linda Shields, and Constance Hanel. Demystifying and Deescalating Cyber Bullying in the Schools: A Resource Guide for Counselors, Educators, and Parents. Print.
When asked what the major cause of teenage suicide is, most people would conclude depression or drugs. The twenty-first century, however, has a new cause on the rise: bullying. Although bullying is receiving unprecedented awareness and advocacy in schools and the media, startling reports of victims taking their lives are uncovering new realities. Suicide is often the horrific result for many teenagers feeling all alone, left with no means to escape the hurtful torture inflicted by bullying. Bullying has become broad and extensive with teenagers revealing its ugly nature in ways far more diverse than ever before. Common maltreatment once consisted of direct and indirect harassment. In the past decade as technology of cell phones and Facebook are at the forefront of most teenagers’ daily lives, mistreatment has elevated to new levels including the newest form of peer pressure with the creation of online ‘suicide pacts’. Bullying is no longer a quiet wolf around the corner happening to the shy, meager adolescent. With technology bringing forth a new form of peer pressure and bullying, as well as how it is aiding the facilitation of direct and indirect bullying, teenage suicide is becoming more prevalent because of technology’s hand in bullying.
Bullying has occurred for many years and via the internet is a new form of bullying, giving higher chances for bullying to occur more often due to technology.
Parikh, Rahul. "The Dangers for Teens Online Are Exaggerated." Policing the Internet. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Our Overblown Paranoia About the Internet and Teens." Salon. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 May 2014.
Kowalski, R., Limber, S., & Agatston, P. (2006). Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age (2nd ed.). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Shah, Nirvi. "Social Network's Anonymity Becomes Weapon for Bullies." McClatchy Newspapers 2011 mar 31: N.p. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
McCarthy, M. (2005). THE CONTINUING SAGA OF INTERNET CENSORSHIP: THE CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION ACT. Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal, (2), 83-101.
Cyber bullying is a cruel and unnecessary act. It can and should be controlled and punishable by establishing laws, “school policing” online sites, and parental supervision and punishment being enforced. Just in the past ten years technology has begun to grow and flourish into something that could be seen as beautiful or evil. Bullying was always known to be done on the school yard or down the block from your house. Cyber bullying has made itself very evident in our world today. Nearly forty-three percent of kids have been bullied online. Of that forty-three percent, only 1 in 10 inform a parent or trusted adult about it. Law enforcement, school staff and parents are working on a way to keep cyber bullying from occurring as often. Even though there is a battle going on to establish a law, cyber bullying should have severe consequences to cut down the amount of it that occurs. This still raises question of whether it will take numbers down or enrage kids to be rebellious and the number continue to rise.
Throughout high school, many teenagers have at some point in time experienced cyberbullying or bullying. Cyberbullying can cause depression or anxiety in teens, as well as stress and lack of participation. It is used to lash out at others through electronics such as: phones, social media, computers, and tablets. People who are not good at communicating face to face can use this method of bullying, so they don’t have to see all the emotions involved. The legislature against bullying helps kids with their everyday lives, by lowering suicide rates, by helping parents be more involved with the students life, and by setting up boundaries on what privacy should look like.
Doucet, Isabeau. "Cyberbullying Among Students Is a Dangerous Epidemic." Netiquette and Online Ethics. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Anti-Social Network: The Rise of a Cyber-Bullying Epidemic."http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com. 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. GALILEO. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Internet usage in children and adolescents has been increasing in a steadily fashion in the past number of years and with the increase in internet usage, a new form of bullying has developed – Cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be defined as “the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person,” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). This form of bullying can come through various mediums including but not limited to text messages, emails, videos, and social networking sites. There is an overwhelming amount of information that defines cyber bullying, identifies the demographics of bullies and victims of cyber bullying, and identifies the outcomes of cyber bullying on victims. More focus needs to be placed on who the perpetrators of this form of violence are and how this form of violence is linked to traditional bullying. This will allow researchers and practitioners to move forward with research and implementation preventative methods and intervention once the problem has already occurred.
Cyber bullying is defined as the use of modern technologies by an individual or group to embarrass or intimidate others in a deliberate, repetitive, and hostile manner. Specific examples of cyber bullying includes anonymous phone calls, abusive e-mails, theft of identity information and harassment via instant messaging devices, social networking, media, and text messages (Li, 2006). The most common relationship issues that result in break ups (41%), envy (20%), intolerance (16%) and ganging up (14%) (Hoff and Mitchell, 2008). Students between the ages of 12 and 16 cannot handle social tensions and schools are responsible for teaching children to handle tension in a positive way (Hoff and Mitchell, 2008).
Beal and Andrew list many recommendations on prevention and intervention of cyber bullying. Some of these recommendations include focus groups, class meetings, surveys and educating parents better, furthermore, since student education is essential when it comes to cyber bullying internet bullying lessons should be integrated into the school’s curriculum. Also, “establishing a school wide cyber bullying task force composed of technological savvy educators, parents, students, and community members to develop and implement anti-cyber bullying programs aimed at keeping schools safe and secure” (Beal & Andrew,2007). Although some of these might seem a bit extreme we have to remember these children are our future and at any cost we should do whatever it takes to protect them.
Schools in the United States are prone to cyberbullying in which violence can occur. Seen among most of the adolescent population, the harassment online through words and pictures does not stop with disputes, they often lead to face to face confrontation. In many cases, violence such as pushing, tripping and even fighting with the intent of hurting another occurs. Cyberbullying can not only lead to social harassment among many people, but it can also cause mental and emotional pain among youth and adults today. In recent studies, many people that have been victims of cyberbullying are more likely to have low self-esteem and may consider hurting themselves through suicide (Bullying Statistics ). Suicide is referred to the act of one hurting themselves through cutting, shooting or overdosing. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in the recent attempts of suicide within the last decade, many referring back to forms of bullying (Bullying and Suicide). While there may be many emotional effects on a victim of cyberbullying, there are also many mental effects on the body. For instance, throughout the teen years, many want to stay independent throughout situations such as bullying in order to obtain from further humiliation from parents or guardians. Many teens begin to internalize their problems and can initially cause feelings of helplessness
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).
Its growing popularity, ability to humiliate teens instantly, and harmful effects are all reasons why cyberbullying laws are needed to stop cyberbullies everywhere. Cyberbullying laws are needed to stop the growth of cyberbullying, as well as the bullies who are taking advantage of technology to harass others. Victims of cyberbullying are affected psychologically and all too often suicidal. Stopping cyberbullying would decrease the number of cyberbullying-related suicides, therefore, saving the lives of victimized teens and young adults. As of November of 2011, anti-bullying laws that include electronic harassment have been enacted in thirty-five states. Cyberbullying affects the lives of teens and young adults everywhere causing psychological harm and even suicide; laws against cyberbullying could be the answer to ending this epidemic.