Cyberbullying is an epidemic that has increased exponentially in the last several years. The reason for the growth is due to the advancement of technology, increased adolescent use of social media, and until recently, a lack of public awareness. Health care professionals, law makers, educators, parents, and peers must unite to reduce cyberbullying. Forming a multi-faceted line of defense that includes: educational programs, public awareness, continued research on the effects of bullying, stricter public policy, and parental involvement; is the answer to diminishing this rampant social plague. Furthermore, defying the atrocity of bullying is Biblical, and fits into the Christian tenet.
Bullying is an unhealthy and cruel act, and with such …show more content…
To add weight to the notion that bullying, to include cyberbullying, is a nationwide problem; 49 states have established anti-bullying laws (Stopbullying.gov, 2015). There are currently no federal laws that specifically address bullying; however, “in some cases, bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment when it is based on race, national origin, color, sex, age, disability, or religion. When bullying and harassment overlap, federally-funded schools (including colleges and universities) have an obligation to resolve the harassment” (Stopbullying.gov, 2015). Schools and their administrators have a legal obligation to provide a safe learning environment for their students. Administrators develop policies within their organizations to address bullying, but there is research that shows educating in the name of prevention should be implemented. Just as the internet is a world-wide institution, so is cyberbullying. Researchers in Taiwan conducted a study that supports the notion that educating youth on what cyberbullying is and the effects it can have could help to lower the rate of instance. Lee, Zi-Pei, Svanström, & & Dalal, (2013) proposed an educational program, WebQuest, an interactive, educational class. The team tested the program and found that implementation would definitely lessen the likelihood of cyberbullying. Despite an institution’s best effort to control bullying, “when the situation is not adequately resolved, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division may be able to help” (Stopbullying.gov,
Bullying is an unhealthy and cruel act, and with such …show more content…
To add weight to the notion that bullying, to include cyberbullying, is a nationwide problem; 49 states have established anti-bullying laws (Stopbullying.gov, 2015). There are currently no federal laws that specifically address bullying; however, “in some cases, bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment when it is based on race, national origin, color, sex, age, disability, or religion. When bullying and harassment overlap, federally-funded schools (including colleges and universities) have an obligation to resolve the harassment” (Stopbullying.gov, 2015). Schools and their administrators have a legal obligation to provide a safe learning environment for their students. Administrators develop policies within their organizations to address bullying, but there is research that shows educating in the name of prevention should be implemented. Just as the internet is a world-wide institution, so is cyberbullying. Researchers in Taiwan conducted a study that supports the notion that educating youth on what cyberbullying is and the effects it can have could help to lower the rate of instance. Lee, Zi-Pei, Svanström, & & Dalal, (2013) proposed an educational program, WebQuest, an interactive, educational class. The team tested the program and found that implementation would definitely lessen the likelihood of cyberbullying. Despite an institution’s best effort to control bullying, “when the situation is not adequately resolved, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division may be able to help” (Stopbullying.gov,