Cyberbullying

 Overview
Cyberbullying is the new version of the schoolhouse bully, except rather than use excessive force the online bully uses the Internet and text messages to harass an individual or group of peoples. Cyberbullying is a dangerous new foe that adolescents must face today.

Cyberbullies can be especially dangerous during the middle school years. According to [|Science Daily], about 10 percent of adolescents in grades 7-9 is cyber bully victim. Often times, young girls are the most involved with cyber bullying through spreading rumors and stories. They are also spending significant more amounts of time on their cell phones and computers.

The most dangerous aspects of cyber bullies are that they are often times anonymous. Because of the apparent anonymity teachers, principles, and parents are having a terrible time intervening in any meaningful way to help kids. Teachers are now being encouraged to talk to their students about online bullying and take it seriously. To better equip teachers [|Adams] and others have made a list of the most common websites where students are likely to be harassed: [|Formspring], [|Chatroulette], [|Stickam], [|Foursquare], and [|4CHAN]. These websites may not be as familiar the parents or teachers as [|Facebook], [|Myspace] or [|Twitter], but they each pose unique threats that Adams explains. There are some disturbing statistics attributed to cyberbullying. 42% of kids have been bullied online. 58% of these victims have not told their parents. To read more about these statistics check out the [|Cyberbullying Research Center’s Website].

**History**
Cyberbullying has become more prominent as technology grows and develops. The more social networking becomes available for teens the more cyberbullying occurs. The Columbine shooting was a very significant incident regarding cyberbullying. Although not a case of cyberbullying, it opened the eyes of the public to teen bullying and the serious measures we should take to help prevent it. Cyberbullying a teen can lead them to having serious psychological problems or even worse, suicide.

There are many cases of cyberbullying to date. The most recognized is probably Canadian teenager Ghyslain Raza, a.k.a. 'Star Wars Kid". Raza's classmates caught him on tape emulating star wars light saber moves using a golf club in privacy, or at least that what he thought. His classmates thought it was funny so they posted it publicly on the internet. It became an internet sensation with almost 21 million views on YouTube today. What most people found funny in this video, Raza and his family did not. In 2003 they filed a lawsuit on the families of the kids that posted the video. Raza has also needed psychiatric help since the incident. Another devastating incident that we as Vermonters can relate to is the Ryan Halligan story. Halligan was a 13 year old boy from Vermont who was harassed through instant messaging which ultimately led to his suicide. This was back in 2003 before Facebook even began, meaning that cyberbullying is getting even worse as new and popular social networks begin to emerge.

Because of these incidents, state governments have begun to take serious measures to stop cyberbullying. States such as Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and Oregon have passed cyberbullying laws while California schools have cracked down on the punishment of cyberbullies. Psychologist Izzy Kalman created a website, Bullies to Buddies, which offers tips to teenagers and their families on how to prevent and deal with cyberbullying. A very excellent article is also available, "Death by Cyber-bully", written by John Halligan (Ryan Halligan's father), which also offers tips, which I believe is a really great source because he, as a father, has lost a son to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a serious matter with a gruesome history. (nfoltz)

**Opinion**
I think that cyber bullies are much more dangerous than many realize. It seems that most believe that there are dangerous chat room-predators lurking in some strange place, but after completing research on the topic that is just not the case. Cyber bullies target others for a variety of different reasons and through numerous mediums.

One of the interesting aspects of cyber bullying is that there is a fine legal line of what schools and parents can do. This is the case because the First Amendment protects much of the hateful messages online. Schools and parents have a difficult time getting any sort of legal sanction carried out against perpetrators. That is why I think that schools need plans to stop bullying before it occurs. This requires instituting an Internet use policy, which most schools and districts already have. Also, it is imperative that at least while in school kids they can use the Internet with out being harassed. I think that it will only be a short time before cell phones will some equipped with anti-bullying apps or settings that will block unwanted text messages or hurtful emails.

Lastly, I think that cyber bullies need to be a common discussion inside of the home and classroom. When teenage angst and drama is compounded by hurtful information being spread there can be dire consequences. Students need to be constantly reminded of appropriate behavior online just as any other behavior. I am worried about cyber bullies and I think they deserve more attention than they are receiving right now.

**Future Trends?**
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