Cyberbullying is a serious problem with serious results. The effects of cyberbullying can be extreme as stated in one study “Individuals who were bully/victims displayed more anxiety, more depression, and lower self-esteem than individuals in the other groups” (Kowalski 2008) Cases such as Megan Meier show these effects at the most serious state. This 13-year-old girl met a boy on Myspace named Josh Evans, which turned out to be a false account account. This account was made by Lori Drew, a middle-aged neighbor of Megan’s. The depressed teen was sent over the edge and committed suicide after receiving a message from this user saying “ ‘The world would be a better place without you.’ ” (Steinhauer 2008)
Depression and anxiety are severe issues that are a dangerous concern, especially amongst the youth. These emotions can be triggered by innumerable events and it is important to do all we can in order to minimize the risk. These emotional issues can lead to many other heartbreaking disorders such as social disorders, eating disorders and in extreme cases suicide. As one study states “depression has been identified as a significant correlate of suicidal ideation among children and adolescents.”(Allen, Carter, Hamm & Silverman. 2008 p.27) It is a parent’s worst nightmare to lose their child especially to something that is treatable like depression. Cyberbullying can be extremely dangerous at time taking effect on adolescents without any type of warning. Teens sited problems they had telling their parents. “They fear that they will be further victimized if the perpetrator gets into trouble and retaliates. They fear that their parents will remove their computers or cellular phones in an effort to protect them.”(Kowalski 2008) This is a subject that it pays to be educated on and through knowledge and openness on cyberbullying we can treat the effects before they become too severe.
Bibliography
Allen, A., Carter, R., Hamm, L. & Silverman, W. (2008). Measures Matter: The Relative Contribution of Anxiety and Depression to Suicidal Ideation in Clinically Referred Anxious Youth Using Brief Versus Full Length Questionnaires. Depression and Anxiety, P.27-35.
Kowalski RM. (2008).Recognizing and Treating Victim and Aggressor. Psychiatric Times, Vol. 25 (11)
Steinhauer, Jennifer (2008, November) Woman Who Posed as Boy Testifies in Case That Ended in Suicide of 13-Year-Old. New York Times
4 comments:
This blog was very informative and interesting. I really enjoyed how you sectioned it into prevention, solution, and effects of cyber bullying. It is so sad to know that cyber bullying can cause such extreme measures such as suicide.
One area that I would ask about is the age group you seemed to discuss. Throughout your paper you addressed just adolescents and students. According to Hinduja and Patchin (2008) we are all at risk from those who can and will display technology as a criminal weapon. I am aware that the target victims are adolescents and most of the research suggests that. However cyber bullying can target any age group because as we know harassment and aggression doesn’t put a limit on age. Did you guys decide as a group to discuss younger individuals and do you think there is an age limit to cyber bullying?
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W.
(2008). Cyber bullying: An exploratory analysis of factors related to offending and victimization. Deviant Behavior, 29, 129-156.
You guys really hit all the areas that needed to be discussed. Cyberbullying is a major problem that needs to be discussed. I remember when I was in grade school and Instant Messenger was the coolest thing to do. I was in a rich community and I was not one of the rich ones. Someone created a screen name and sent me some very hateful stuff that really hurt me as a child. That was just a few comments but it really made me upset. Nowadays it seems like these kids are taking it to the extreme. In discussing how to deal with cyber bullying, that could help a lot. I remember wanting to retaliate right away and find out who it was. The best thing to do would be to just ignore it. Someone that can't say something to your face is a coward and should not be given the time of day. Kids should know these htings and learn how to best deal with it. Megan Meier should have been able to just block off the ahteful messages coming her way but instead she went the opposite way and ended fatally.
The effects are extreme and the solution is tough. Through knowledge and communication with our kids we can better deal with these things. I feel like the future is going to get better with this. The younger generation right now dealt with the bullying and knows what its like. With the next generation of children coming the parents should be able to discuss the problems of the internet and touch on cyberbullying along with bullying in face to face interactions. Both are not going to go away, it's just the way it is, but learning how to best cope with it is key.
I agree that cyber bullying is a problem, and I also fear that it is no reported nearly as often as it should be. For some reason, younger, more impressionable people don't seem to detach themselves from the internet and don't realize they are able to walk away or report another user.
It reminds me of spousalabuse cases in which the male is the one that is abused either verbally, emotionally, or physically, but doesn't say anything because he is embarrassed or doesn't realize men can be affected too.
Unfortunately, cyberbullying is one of those issues that has become a problem in our society with the increase of kids using the internet.
I think parents should be more concerned about what their kids do on the internet, and particualry on who they talk to. They should also encourage them to be honest whenever they feel something is not going ok with the stuff they do in the computer.
Parents shouldn't trust the fact that their kids are always playing games on the computer. The internet offers easy access to all types of information, so children are always exposed to danger.
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