Cyberbullying Legislation

The advent of the internet was lauded as a great and knew era for the advancement of society. And, for a while it was. It allowed for the freedom of ideas and knowledge to be accessible to anyone in any given instant. However, the newfound independence the internet provided came at a cost. Soon after its creation, many people began to harass each other online, especially on social media networks. One of the highest demographics discovered to be both perpetrators and victims were middle school students. On the website The Cyberbullying Research Center a survey found that, “About half of young people have experienced some form of cyberbullying and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly.” A number that is astounding considering how it involves

Bill 68, is that while it does very little for cyberbullying it’s intentions are commendable. Many advocates for cyberbullying legislation agree the bill is a step in the right direction and it does have some strengths. The Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act (H.R. 68) is a program that is trying to make a change and reduce juvenile crime. Further, it’s admirable that they are trying to include cyberbullying related crime amongst youths into the bill when cyberbullying is so rarely taken into consideration. In fact, cyberbullying is referenced in Section 2 (D) paragraph 11 of Reauthorization of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program. The paragraph proposes to revise the language on cyberbullying “as so redesignated, by striking ‘research based bullying, cyberbullying, and gang prevention programs’ and ‘interventions such as researched-based anti-bullying, anti-cyberbullying, and gang prevention programs, as well as mental health services and trauma-informed practices’” (U.S. House). Essentially, the section paragraph is describing the programs plan to combat cyberbulling and other types of bullying. The program plans to use “research” and other collected data to create preemptive measures that can prevent cyberbullying. Additionally, methods of “intervention” will also be used to curb cyberbullying rates amongst young teens. In short, the bill is trying to make an effort to reduce cyberbullying by enacting programs and taking data on cyberbullying seriously. On a similar note, there was another bill that resembled to Bill 68. In a July 13, 2016 press release by the Judiciary House Committee entitled, “House Judiciary Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Crime Amongst Youth” discussed a bill that had many parallels to Bill 68’s desire to curb crime and implement regulations. The article referenced a successful program: “Created in