What Is Cyber-bullying?
Since the advent of the Internet with instant messaging programs, email accounts and social networking sites, people can now communicate with one another, sometime worlds away, at the touch of a button. Like every other niche of society, however, there is a dark side to all this communication, with some users choosing to use technology to bully people.
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Definition of Cyber-bullying
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Cyber-bullying occurs when a person or group of persons uses the Internet or text messages to incite fear, spread gossip or generally harass someone. Although these can be one-time occurrences, they generally tend to be repetitive actions, causing humiliation or creating an insecure environment for the victim.
Victims
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The largest number of people in the United States who report being cyber-bullied are middle-school and high-school students.The majority of adults are not victims of cyber-bullies, although they are not completely immune to cyber-harassment.
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Causes
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The influx of cyber-bullies is due to the growing popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Access to these social networks makes posting new commentary and hurtful comments about an individual both simple and immediate.
Effects
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Because the majority of cyber-bullying occurs in the student population, individuals' academic lives can be immensely effected. Victims of cyber-bullying feel ashamed and humiliated, and thus they often skip school. An individual can feel socially ostracized and become withdrawn and depressed. Reports by USA Today and the Baltimore Examiner have cited instances in which middle-school and high-school students have committed suicide due to depression that has resulted from vicious cyber-bullying.
Prevention and Solution
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For parents, the prevention of cyber-bullying begins at home. It is important to be an active listener if cyber-bullying is reported because the problem does not just disappear. It is also important to pay attention to the social networking sites that are visited by young people. Most sites post age requirements, but they may not be strictly enforced, and there is always the possibility that a fake name or profile will be created with false information for log-in requirements to be completed.
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Resources
- Photo Credit kobnet.net/misc/ computer_rooms
