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Kelvin Rivas

Professor Massey

ENC 1101

11/11/2017

Awareness on Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is becoming the more typical form of bullying in todays day. With how

easy it is to get your hands on a computer or cellphone there is the danger of receiving or sending

malicious content. In this essay, I will talk on cyberbullying to raise awareness on the matter and

show we need to prevent any form of bullying before someone is damaged by it. I will touch the

subjects of what is cyberbullying, ways we can prevent cyberbullying, on how we can stop

cyberbullying, as well as our impact vs our intent.

Author Kimberly Miller states that The rapid growth of technology and social media has

increased the incidence of cyberbullying. This phenomenon has ultimately left mental scars of

anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation on both the victimized and the

offenders, making this phenomenon detrimental. (404) But what is cyberbullying? Cyber

bullying is when technology is used to harass, threaten or have malicious intent towards an

individual. One case involving cyberbullying that Miller published in her article involved Megan

Mier, a thirteen-year-old girl form Missouri with depression and low self-esteem issues who was

contacted by a 16-year-old male who befriended her on Myspace. According to Miers mother

she finally felt like a boy thought she was pretty. As their friendship developed and she became

more open with him, he quickly changed tones with her. He began sending her troubling

messages and posting private conversations on school bulletin boards. Crushed by what was

posted about her she went come crying and took her life by hanging herself. Megan is one of the
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many cases in the world of cyberbullying that get overlooked or treated lightly. No one should

ever have to go through any form of bullying or feel less of who they really are.

In a study done by Julie Marie Luker, she investigated cyberbullying readiness among

1,587 professionals. From all those professionals, 85% of them perceived their institution to be

less prepared and to handle a cyberbullying case. Julie Luker states that Educational climate is

becoming increasingly global and reliant on advanced technology; However, such growth invites

challenges. (pg. 144) With this statement and research she conducted we need to inform

Teachers, school staff, parents and student on how to effectively intervene in a cyberbullying

case. One method that can use to reduce cyberbullying is from psychologist Michelle F. Wright

which is called parental mediation. Parental mediation is when the parents of the child monitor

the childs media content surfing as well monitor how long they are on internet/social media. In

the authors words Parental mediation is defined as the strategies employed by parents to

manage their childrens relationship with media. (347) In addition to parental mediation we can

teach campus officials and parents how to read the signs of an adolescent going through

cyberbullying. The most common signs of cyberbullying are low school performance, low

hygiene level, and increased risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. When we see a

child reflecting these symptoms the best thing to do is provide an open ear and let them know

they are not alone. Most children even young adults are afraid to reach out for help due to fear of

any repercussions they might face. Whether it be it public humiliation or even a life threat the

best way to stop all this is to step in the circumstance and shed light on the dark matter. Whether

you can resolve the issue or not there is always an authority(police) we can report to, to get it

resolved.
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A major key in stopping and preventing cyberbullying is by passing a bill against it. In

the Canadian journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice they speak about how their Bill C-17

seems to fulfill its purpose in protecting Canadian youth from cyberbullying. This bill prohibits

false messages, indecent telephone calls and harassing telephone calls. Cyberbullying typically

does not come to the attention of parents and authorities until serious psychological damage has

occurred; enacting a law that criminalizes adolescent behavior might exacerbate non-

disclosure.(journal pg. 570) The reason I bring this bill into discussion is because if a person has

the intent to make indecent communication has committed an offence. We need more bills like

the C-13 bill that protects those who are being effected by cyberbullying. The majority of people

experiencing cyberbullying typically the younger ones tend to hide their bullying and will not

discuss it with anyone. Bills like C-13 protect those individuals who have a difficult time

speaking up and they have a sense of feel of being backed up. Though we have many policies

that protect us here in the United States on traditional bullying and cyberbullying. We need a

more global awareness of

the issue at hand. The issue

being that no human being

should ever be pushed to

the point of emotional

damage or even death.

Another subject I

will touch one is the

Bystander effect and

empathy in society. The bystander effect is when a person is least likely to help a victim in need
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of help due to other people present. At some point, we have been presented with the opportunity

to be the helping hand to someone in need but shy away from it because we are ashamed of what

others might think or that are reputation might be tainted. As a society, we should let go of

what people think of us and put ourselves in the other persons shoes. Julia Barlinska described

empathy as affective response more appropriate to someone elses situation than to ones own.

Similarly, cognitive empathy is the ability to understand the beliefs, feelings, and intentions of

others. (pg.40) With traditional face to face bullying we may contribute to being a bystander by

pretending we didnt see anything while on the other hand, contribute to cyberbullying when

we share and pass on picture or messages instead of deleting them on the spot. While both are

different forms of bullying in different environment we still have negative implications when we

choose not to help or stop. Cyber bullying is the cowardly form of bullying with this

communication the attack is more private and in the dark. As a community, our duty should be to

inform adolescents, parents and, teachers that we must respect each other no matter how different

we are. Furthermore, even if we dont not see eye to eye with each other we should not take it

out on someone who does or does not deserve it.

With how powerful technology and social media is in todays society we are held

accountable for any of the actions we do online. Whether it be a comment or post intended as a

joke, we must think of impact vs intent. Although we may have good intentions the way

someone takes or perceives our actions may be different from how we meant it. A perfect

example of this case would be in the workplace when a coworker makes a vulgar joke and in turn

may be investigated for sexual harassment. Likewise, on social media we are documented for

every search and every comment we make. The best way to avoid any form of misinterpretation
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online is to think if what you are doing could be offensive to anyone, and double think it before

you post it.

We must take it upon ourselves to always be conscious of those going through these

circumstances. Let us not assume its nothing and take it lightly. In our civilization it is quite

normal to just brush off an observation we made of a peer harassing another peer or just think to

ourselves someone should do something to help. Everyone is a someone and there is so much

power when we lend a hand to someone in need and let them know they are not alone in this.

Most of those individuals that took their life due to cyberbullying never told anyone what they

were going through. With a simple and authentic how are you doing to a friend can be the

difference from them taking their live that day.

In conclusion, cyberbullying is the new form of bullying on the rise in todays world.

The best way to tackle the matter head on is by spreading awareness to teachers and parents. As

well to be aware of any signs of a child that may show any symptom of being bullied online.

Furthermore, bills like C-13 are perfect examples of what type of laws and policies we should

have to protect and back up those being effected by cyberbullying. In addition, as a community

we need to put ourselves in the other persons shoes and really think what they must be feeling.

Empathy is a great tool to help the victims of cyberbullying as well as prevent the situation from

ever arising. Cyberbullying is most cowardly form of bullying that exists. With enough

awareness we can put an end to cyberbullying or at least make those oblivious to it aware to it
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Works Citied

Barliska, Julia, et al. "Cyberbullying among Adolescent Bystanders: Role of the

Communication Medium, Form of Violence, and Empathy." Journal of Community &

Applied Social Psychology, vol. 23, no. 1, Jan/Feb2013, pp. 37-51. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1002/casp.2137.

Beyazit, Utku, et al. "An Examination of the Predictive Factors of Cyberbullying in

Adolescents." Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, vol. 45, no. 9,

Oct. 2017, pp. 1511-1522. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2224/sbp.6267.

Ellis, Ross. Raising Responsible Digital Citizens. Stomp Out Bullying, Jul. 11, 2016,

www.stompoutbullying.org/stomp-out-bullying-blog/raising-responsible-digital-citizens/

Luker, Julie Marie. "International Perceptions of Cyberbullying within Higher Education." Adult

Learning, vol. 28, no. 4, Nov. 2017, pp. 144-156. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1177/1045159517719337.

Miller, Kimberly. Cyber Bullying and Its Consequences: How Cyberbullying is Contorting the

Minds of Victims and Bullies Alike, and the Laws Limited Available Redress. Southern

California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, Spring 2017, Vol. 26 Issue 2, Mar. 2017, p379-

404.