Reaction to Cyber Bullying

Lisante, J. (2005) Cyber Bullying: No Muscles Needed. Connection for Kids. Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3116.

Cyber bullying, the act of harrasment by the use of technology. Almost half the students have reported that they have been bullied, a little over half the students also reported to have said something hurtful to another student online. A lot of students even make a new name that people do not recognize just to make fun of people. Unfortunately, most people do not get caught, and cyber bullying is becoming a huge problem in schools.
The schools now tells students that school grounds are not just where you come in and where you go out, but because of the internet school grounds are now everywhere. When I was younger whatever happened off school grounds was no longer the schools problem, even if it dealt with another students. Due to the demand that came along with the internet, schools grounds needed to be enlargened to include the internet. Therefore if a student is caught cyber bullying they can get in trouble with the school even if it is not during school hours. When caught they must go infront of a community trial and be decided if they are suspened or kicked out of the school. More harsh restrictions are being put into place to help prevent cyber bullying.
The biggest problem that causes cyber bullying is the idea of instant gratification, it is reported that most students who cyber bully are not always the ones who would have to nerve to do it in person. When you have instant gratification mixed with technology, you can have a disaster. Technology travels at the speed of light, or close to it, and so what you write and click post is instantly available to the public. A scary thought, but when you are writing in the face of anger you do not think of consequences or where it will end up, all that you are thinking about is getting back at that one person.
There is now a new bill that is pending that takes action against cyber bullying. It is even said that harassment by computer is punishable up to one year in prison or a large fine. This is a good thing because it lets the student know that what they are doing is illegal, and that they do suffer serve consequenes from it. Cyber bullying is not only found in adolescences but adults to, and this law will be able to punish both.
To help prevent cyber bullying parents need to sit down with their student and talk about what is acceptable and what is not. You can also ask your child to help teach you to be computer savvy, by doing so it lets you see just how advanced your child is. Some otehr good pieces of teachnology to use is the parental controls, avaliable through a lot of companies, to help prevent your kid getting in to everything. One company even gives you a report of all the action your child has done on the computer for the week.
Now it is time for schools and parents to work as one to help prevent their student from becoming a cyber bully or from being bullied. Rules need to be shared between the two places, and in interest of each other. Each place needs to have consequences for not following the rules, and rewards for following the rules.