Cyber Bulling

Lauren Guest, Brandon Jaworowski, Jessica Kamp

Cyber bullying is when a person uses technology in order to make threats, harass, humiliate or embarrass another person. This is most common from teens, preteens, and young adults. This kind of bullying is created through the use of technology. As our technology grows, so does the rate of cyber bullying. Researchers believe that kids have turned away from the “schoolyard bully” more and more because cyber bullying is much more convenient and safe. When you are hiding behind a computer screen you have all the time in the world to think of something horrible to say to the other person. However, when you are face to face, that is not the case.
Cyber bulling occurs mainly for two different reason. Most researchers believe that teens and young adults have too much time on their hands, so they see something on the internet and interject themselves and become involved. The second reason is that sometimes, people begin to use hateful words and harass each other in order to “defend” someone else. This causes much more cyber bulling because people then take sides and words are continuously exchanged until one of the groups gives up.
There was a poll taken in 2004 revealing shocking statistics about cyber bulling. According to the study, 42% of kids have been bullied while online, 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once, 35% of kids have been threatened online, Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once, 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other message, 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online, more than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once, 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online, more than 1 in 3 have done it more than once, 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
There is no real solution to this problem due to the fact that it is the internet. The only people who can prevent the cyber bullying are the ones doing it. Teens and young adults need to step back and think before they put something in writing. How would they feel if they were the ones receiving that message? If these rates increase, the internet will become a place solely full of hate. Someone must take a stand and help prevent this.