cyber-bullying: the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.
When I first heard of cyber-bullying, last year, I almost couldn't believe my ears. But it makes sense, a bully is a bully- whether they're on the playground or in their virtual community.
In 2006, we saw one of the first cases to really address cyber-bullying- the suicide of Megan Meier. Meier was only 13 years old when she killed herself. The cause? A boy she had been chatting with via MySpace suddenly did not want to be her friend anymore, tellhing her she was a horrible person who should have a horrible life. The boy, it turned out, was no boy at all but rather the mother of a friend of Meier's who had created this fictional character just to 'mess with her.'
Last fall, we saw more effects of cyber-bullying. Even with legislation being passed to fight this phenomenon, the facts remain truly heartbreaking. Tyler Clementi, 18, threw himself off of the George Washington Bridge after a video of him engaging in sexual acts with another man was streamed all over the internet by his room-mate and another student.
Now Facebook, partnered with LGBT, is launching new tools to prevent cyber-bullying from going un-reported and getting out of control. These new tools include things such as a prompt which will ask you if you feel threatened. They also go as far as to give you the option to contact someone who you trust and notify them about the problem. This could be anyone from your older sibling to your teacher. Sort of like an emergency contact stored on your facebook...
The concept is encouraging, almost comforting. But its also, plain weird. (but not in a bad way.) What do you guys think?
I for one have two younger brothers, one of which is six and has already figured out how to use the tab bar to get to Netflix and watch his favorite cartoon movie. Needless to say, I won't be surprised if in a few years he has a facebook too. So, I'm down.
On the same front, legislation has been passed in some states, primarily through the Jessica Logan Bill, that are aimed directly at cyber-bullying. Do you find this shocking? Is it worse to be humiliated through a structure by which things remain permanent? Or is it the same as being bullied in the halls. You tell me.
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