Cyber+Bullying

= = CYBER BULLYING Bullying has been going on for ages. As technology develops new ways of bullying as also developed. This new technique is known as "Cyber-Bullying". It causes numerous negative side affects ranging from low self-esteem to suicide. Because of these harmful side-effects cyber-bullying must be stopped. What Is Cyber Bullying? Cyber bullying is "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person". People have been known to be not only embarrassed but harassed, threatened and tormented by the cyber bullies.

Effects Of Cyber Bull ﻿ ying Cyber bullying has numerous effects. It can not only physically harm someone but mentally as well. It can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, and incredibly low self-esteem. There are several cases where cyber-bullying went to far and caused deaths.

One example of the devastating effects of the story of Megan Meier, a girl who hanged herself 2 weeks shy of her 14th birthday. The cause was cyber bullying. After supposedly spreading gossip about Lori Drew's daughter, a neighbor, she her daughter and an employer created a fake myspace page. This fake myspace page was a boy named "Josh Evans". The intention of this myspace was to befriend her find out information about her and use it to humiliate her. "Josh Evans" befriended her and got her to begin to like him. Soon later the tone of the messages weren't as sweet. He began to say cruel and hateful things. The last message Megan sent to "Josh Evans" was "You're the kind of boy a girl would kill herself for."

A second example is about a boy names Tyler Clementi. He was a talented violinist who had just started college. He began to become harassed by his roommate, Ravi. Ravi and his accomplice, Molly Wei, streamed a video of his sexual encounter with another man on the internet. Ravi told all of his twitter followers about it and invited them to watch the second sexual encounter. Although it can not be proved that Ravi cyber bullied based on his sexual orientation it is assumed it was. Clementi jumped off of the George Washington Bridge, ending life.

Cyber bulling is a serious issue. It hurts people more than you think. If it doesn't end in death it almost always has life long side effects.

Preventing Cyber Bullying Because of the severity and outcomes of cyber bullying have reached devastating heights new organizations and laws are being formed to end cyber-bullying. Education is the best form of prevention, informing future generations of the harmful effects is the best way to stop it. If you know someone who is being harassed through the internet or any other means, tell someone. Tell an authority figure, a parent, or a teacher. A good prevention strategy for parents: talk to your children or while they use the internet ask what they're up to. Just as you would if they were going to leave the house. 15 states are beginning to form anti-bullying laws, this makes bullying illegal. Massachusetts is making new tough anti-bullying campaigns, giving public schools more authority over this typer of bullying.

//extra links with more information:// ﻿[|Stop Cyber Bullying] [|more bullying stories] [|Video on prevention]



Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/29/earlyshow/main6343077.shtml http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/prevention/index.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/us/28hoax.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

=11 Facts About Cyber Bullying=

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 * 1) Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once.
 * 2) Among this percentage, being ignored and disrespected were the most common forms of cyber bullying.
 * 3) Nine out of ten middle school students have had their feelings hurt online.
 * 4) About 75% have visited a Web site bashing another student.
 * 5) Four out of ten middle school students have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them.
 * 6) About 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mails.
 * 7) The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber bullying are similar to real-life bullying outcomes, except for the reality that with cyber bullying there is often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the Internet is available all the time.
 * 8) The primary cyber bullying location where victimizing occurs, at 56%, is in chat rooms.
 * 9) Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.
 * 10) About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of ten say it has happened more than once.
 * 11) Cyber bullying has increased in recent years. In a national survey of 10-17 year olds, twice as many children indicated they had been victims and perpetrators.