In 2006, Missouri resident Megan Meier looked forward to turning 14 and having her braces removed. Three weeks before her birthday, however, Megan would become the victim of a “cruel cyber hoax,” devastating her family and friends, as well as the country, after taking her own life (Steinhauer; Parents). Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman and talented violinist, jumped off George Washington Bridge near Manhattan in 2010 after his roommate streamed an online video of him having an intimate encounter with another man (Tyler). Extreme cases such as these are only occasionally seen, but lower profile instances of cyber bullying occur across the nation each day. Although some may argue that the statistics are insufficient to assume cyber
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Whereas traditional bullying is usually limited to a small group of witnesses, an embarrassing Internet attack can spread throughout a school in seconds. In addition, unlike victims of traditional bullying who might feel safe at home, victims of cyber bullying can be attacked at any time from anywhere, through mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. It is safe to assume that this feeling of inescapability is what allows cyber bullying to have a greater impact on its victims than traditional bullying. As cyber bullying is more invasive in personal life than traditional face-to-face bullying, the consequences that follow cyber bullying are often more severe, damaging reputations and ruining lives (Foxman), and in the worst cases, victims feeling they have no other option of escape except kill themselves …show more content…
Technological advances of the past two decades have created a “cyber” world, allowing instant communication, information sharing, and an interconnectedness never before experienced in the world. With these advantages also comes the potential for abuse of such power. One abuse that has emerged is cyber bullying. Check the numbers. Cyber bullying is increasing, and it will continue to grow until met with educational programs that encourage awareness and action against it. The biggest obstacle to overcome is convincing the teen majority of the cyber world that cyber space should be a place of positive use, as opposed to a dystopia of harmful
Whereas traditional bullying is usually limited to a small group of witnesses, an embarrassing Internet attack can spread throughout a school in seconds. In addition, unlike victims of traditional bullying who might feel safe at home, victims of cyber bullying can be attacked at any time from anywhere, through mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. It is safe to assume that this feeling of inescapability is what allows cyber bullying to have a greater impact on its victims than traditional bullying. As cyber bullying is more invasive in personal life than traditional face-to-face bullying, the consequences that follow cyber bullying are often more severe, damaging reputations and ruining lives (Foxman), and in the worst cases, victims feeling they have no other option of escape except kill themselves …show more content…
Technological advances of the past two decades have created a “cyber” world, allowing instant communication, information sharing, and an interconnectedness never before experienced in the world. With these advantages also comes the potential for abuse of such power. One abuse that has emerged is cyber bullying. Check the numbers. Cyber bullying is increasing, and it will continue to grow until met with educational programs that encourage awareness and action against it. The biggest obstacle to overcome is convincing the teen majority of the cyber world that cyber space should be a place of positive use, as opposed to a dystopia of harmful