Cyber-bullying

Cyber Bullying

 As most of us know, the world is getting more and more advanced with the Internet, Facebook, and etc. We can do almost anything on the internet, making it a very important asset. Sometimes, however, the internet can be used for evil instead of good. Teenagers have been tormented and embarrassed by cyber bullying, the act of using communication devices to humiliate or ridicule others. Some have been so tortured by the acts of others that they have taken their own life because of what has been said via the phone or computer. Others have been left depressed or emotionally scarred. Luckily, California has taken an action to help fight cyber bullying. This law can do many things to help combat this harsh and horrible act. Assembly Bill AB 86 went into effect on January 1, 2009 and adds to the School and Law Enforcement Partnership program provisions related to bullying committed by any means of an electronic communication device or system and adds a definition of ”electronic communication” for this purpose. Additionally, this law gives school administrators the tools to help “level the playing field”. They can now discipline students the way they would with physical bullying. The Cyber Bullying Research Center defines cyber bullying as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Unlike real life bullying, there are no telltale signs that any trouble is occurring. There are no black eyes, torn shirts, bloody noses or bruises that jump out at you and screams, “I’m getting bullied”. Also with cyber bullying, you have the additional consequence of what you say on the internet, stays on the internet forever. The trauma is never more than a Google search away for anyone to see. If this was happening to you, wouldn’t you want something to be done? That is exactly what this law does. First, this law punishes kids if they commit cyber bullying. They can be suspended or even expelled depending on the severity of the crime. In 2003, a survey of 1,500 students between the fourth and eighth grade, was executed countrywide on the topic of cyber bullying. In the survey, 42% of students said that they have been bullied online, and 35% said that they have been threatened online. 58% of the kids admitted that someone has said hurtful or mean things to them over the World Wide Web. Out of all the kids surveyed, 58% have not told their parents or any other adult about being bullied over the internet. According to Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, one in five children between the age of 11 and 18 have been a victim of cyber bullying. Obviously, too many people have been affected by cyber bullying. This law can help make sure that those who commit this horrible crime, are recognized and punished for their wrong doing, and that consequences are established. This law can also help single out harassment. Chris Duque, a former police detective who became the Hawaii’s police department’s expert on Internet Safety and Security, says, “I have seen a student post another student’s address or phone number with the intention of inviting sexual predators.” This law can help prevent this from happening by establishing serious consequences for students’ senseless pranks. McKinley High School vice Principal Neil Takamori says “I don’t even understand it. A lot of adults don’t know how to track what kids are saying about each other online.” This law can help track what kids are saying to each other and if it could be potentially harmful. Raychelle Lohmann, a high school counselor for Hilton Head Island High School said, “Cyber bullying is an easier type of bullying for kids to do. It’s a lot easier to slam someone by posting something online than it is to go to a kid’s face and say something.” This law can help make sure that something is done if cyber bullying is in fact occurring. Finally, teenagers have been left emotionally scarred by what others have done and the harsh things that they have said. As one teenager said, "Cyber bullying is worse than offline bullying. You never know if it's your worst enemy or your best friend. You never know whom to trust." Some have even been so embarrassed or humiliated that they have taken their own life. This law can help bring those responsible to justice. Crimes have consequences, and those who commit the crime, have to accept the consequences. More than one life has been lost already, many under the age of 18, due to the senselessness that is cyber bullying. The judicial system has a responsibility to make sure that justice is established for those families and friends who have lost a loved one. Opponents of this law will counter and say that the law violates the first amendment, our basic right to Freedom of Speech. Some commentators believe it was created strictly to curb our Freedom of Speech, while others believe that school administrators should not have the right to punish children over something said on the Internet. This would be a very good point and a point directly relevant to our Bill of Rights. However, a California Appeals Court has found that cyber bullying is not speech protected by the First Amendment. The court found that the online statements at issue fall within the “true threat” exception to the First Amendment protection. So I ask once more, if it is your kid getting harassed, being ridiculed or being made fun of, wouldn’t you want someone to take action and something to be done? What if it were you getting picked on? I seriously doubt you would be thinking about the bully’s freedom of speech then. There are other opponents of this law that will argue the point that this law has the potential to be a violation of privacy. One commenter said, “What right does a school have to spy on its kids?” This is another valid point and again addresses subject matter directly taken from our Bill of Rights. However, if foul play is occurring between students, administrators have a responsibility to make sure that action is taken. Too many children have been affected by cyber bullying and with this law, action has been finally taken to help them. Assembly Bill AB 86 was amended to help make a difference in the lives of all children and their families. Luckily, this bill has been passed and it is ready to do great deeds. Too many people have been affected by cyber bullying. Some victims have been left with a great risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress related disorders. It is very rare, but some children have committed suicide due to what others have said and done. This law is our best chance at helping to prevent this from ever happening again to any other child. Now, put yourself in a teenager’s shoes. Imagine going onto Facebook and looking through the comments and seeing only compliments and messages from family and friends. Isn’t that better than being afraid of reading what others have posted about you today? Now you can go out and live your life like anybody else should, and deserve to.  By Jonathon Swieder  __Bibliography __ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Cyberbullying: Statistics and Tips." //I-SAFE Inc.// Web. 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