Social Media and CyberBullying

Bad Tech or User Error?

Bullying:

While the focus on bullying and its effects are somewhat recent, most adults today have been the victim of bullying at some point in their lives. Some statistics report that as many as 77% of students polled reported being bullied in some manner.

Teens and the Internet

80% of teens today are on at least one social networking site, while 57% of those are on multiple Cyber Bullying includes, but is not limited to,the use of email, IMs, texting, and social networking sites.

The Perils of Social Media

Examples of Abuse

Case Study 1
Facebook and My Cousin Kendall

about:blank

An example of cyber bullying

Case Study 2

Multiple
Suicides Linked To The Ask.fm Social Site

Deaths linked to Ask.fm 2012-2013

Ciara Pugsley - 15 years old - Ireland Erin Gallagher - 13 years old - Ireland Jessica Langley - 16 years old - Florida Shannon Gallagher - 15 years old - Ireland Anthony Stubbs - 16 years old - United Kingdom Joshua Unsworth - 15 years old - United Kingdom Daniel Perry - 17 years old - Scotland Hannah Smith - 14 years old - United Kingdom Rebecca Sedgwick - 12 years old - Florida

The Other Side...

Arent We Responsible For Our Own Behavior?

Mass media is knocking on wrong door. It is necessary to go deeper and to find a root of a problem. Its not about the site, the problem is about education,

about moral values that were devalued lately. Ask.fm is just a tool which helps
people to communicate with each other, same as any other social network, same as phone, same as piece of paper and pen. Dont blame a tool, but try to

make changes start with yourself be more polite, more kind, more tolerant
of others cultivate these values in families, in schools. Suicide is not something to encourage via mass media. The more you promote

suicide, the more it happen. Do you think mass media cares? They want
scandals, they want sensations and finally they want money. Sorry, but we do not want to participate in it.

What happened is a true tragedy and we give our deepest condolences to the
victims family and relatives.

Blame The Bullies? Their Parents?

Both the teenage girls involved in Rebecca Sedwicks death and their parents are facing felony criminal charges. In Florida anti-bullying legislation called Beccas Law is being proposed that if enacted, would allow schools to punish bullies for harassment committed outside of school

Simple Solution! Get Off The Sites!

Not so simple.
Even after her mother deleted her facebook account, Rebecca Sedgwicks bullies continued to harass her through e-mail, text, and at school.

So Whos Responsible?

E EVERYONE
We as parents need to do our part to teach kids what is, and isnt, acceptable behavior when it comes to the Internet. Social media needs to regulate and monitor sites better to catch problems before they get out of control

Teens need to be taught that bullying is unacceptable in all forms Social media needs to re-evaluate their policies and restrictions regarding under-age users Parents need to monitor their kids accounts and hold them responsible Kids need to know that if they are being bullied, there are ways to stop it

We Need To Let Bullied Kids Know Theyre Not Alone

And Most Importantly, That It Does Get Better