Final Eassay

Cyberbullying a Worldwide Problem

The Story of my Search:

Cyberbullying is a problem which has grown in numerous amounts in the recent years. Cyberbullying is the use of technology to damage, embarrass or threaten another person. This can lead to several serious problems such as suicide. In the United States and Japan you can even go to jail if evidence of cyberbullying that lead to suicide is presented. They say people have the power to stop it, do they really do it?

As a student I haven't been cyberbullyied, but, I know friends who have been. I want to prevent and help others prevent cyberbullying from happening. Hours of thinking made me find my research question: What is Cyberbullying and why is it so important? In CAT all students have accesses to internet enabled devices that are tools for cyberbullying. Also I want to know many things about cyberbullying, such as, Where does it occur the most? At what age? When does it occur? And so on...

I had a few weeks to research and used a variety of resources for it. The first day I went with mu librarian, Mr. Andrea, he had a 40 minute session explaining me and other classmates how to use Ebsco. Ebsco is research database. In Ebsco you may find Newspaper articles, magazines, books, online articles and encyclopedias. Here I found about Amanda Todd, a Canadian girl you will learn about further in this text.

The rest of my days were spent in the school computers researching in internet. I used a variety of resources such as government WebPages and even online sites used to write testimonies. I was surprised in the amount of information that I found. I found even one explaining to kids how was it and how could you prevent it.

The Results of my Search

Kids and teens today start playing games online and sending text messages on their cell phones at an early age. Many teens are logged on to Facebook and texting all day. Even sending email or leaving a voice mail seems “old school” to them (“KidsHealth”). This leads to a new way of bullying, cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the use of technology to damage, embarrass or threaten another person. Cyberbullying can be done by text or digital imaging, messages sent on cell phones, e-mails, instant messaging, web pages, web logs (blogs), chat rooms or discussion groups, and other information communication technologies. This can be done at any time (Ross).

Cyberbullying has grown in numerous amounts and includes huge numbers of victims and bullies. A 2006 poll from the national organization Fight Crime found that 1 in 3 teens and 1 in 6 preteens have been the victims of Cyberbullying (“KidsHealth”). A new poll in 2010 shows that over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have been cyber bullies (Webster). Webster also says that, “Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying”.

            There are many stories of cyberbullying and most of them do not have the happy ending we see in movies. A good example is Amanda Todd. Amanda Todd was a 15 year old Canadian girl who at age of 14 shows a picture in internet of her breasts (Teitel, 68). The picture want viral and she got threatened as well by a 32 year old pedophile, who was her main bully (68). After entering depression, cutting herself and finding herself lost in alcohol, she finds her way to escape the situation by committing suicide at last (68). As a proof she lives a YouTube video explaining her story, I watched it and totally recommend it because it will change your way of seeing cyberbullying and will make you realize how far a simple “game or joke” can go.

            Bullying can be easily detected. Some symptoms of bullying are signs of emotional distress during or after using the Internet or the phone, withdrawal from friends and activities, slipping grades and "acting out" in anger at home, changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite (“KidsHealth”). It can have extreme effects as well such as: The use of alcohol and drugs, Skkiping School, and in some cases suicide (“Cyberbullying”).

            There are also many ways of preventing this from happening. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends to teens the following to prevent this from happening (“Cyberbullying”):

1.    Stay calm, stay respectful, and tell an adult as soon as possible.

2.    If you feel like you are at risk of harming yourself or others get help.

3.    Print Evidence of Bullying

4.    If a friend is being bullied learn how you can be more than a bystander.

5.    Read about how other teens have gotten involved.

I believe the people have the power to stop cyberbullying. Kids, Parents and Teachers all carry a very important responsibility in their hands. Maybe you can be the one who saves the life of a person. We can do this together. As bullies use technology to damage people, let’s all use it to stop this problem. I have the power, you have the power, we have the power…

Reflection on my Search

            I think I became an expert in this short period of time. I would have enjoyed getting more time to research so I could ask questions to our school psychology teacher and maybe do some local polls. I was happy with my results and will investigate more for own knowledge. My goal is to create a campaign in the future that will prevent cyberbullying from happening.

Work Cited

"Cyberbullying." Home. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 5 Aug. 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. <http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html>

Hardcastle, Mike. "What Is Cyberbullying?" About.com Teen Advice. About.com, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013 <http://teenadvice.about.com/od/schoolviolence/a/cyberbullying1.htm>

"KidsHealth." Cyberbullying. Nemours, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.                                    http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html>

Ross, Margaret. "Cyber Bullying Articles & Facts." The Kamaron Institute. N.p.,       2010. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.<http://kamaron.org/Cyber-Bullying-Articles-Facts>

Teitel, Emma. "Bullied To Death." Maclean's 125.42 (2012): 68. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.

Webster, Richard. "Cyber Bullying Statistics." Bullying Statistics. National Crime Prevention Council, 2009. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.<http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html>