The Cyberbullying - Research Paper Example

? Dear Abby Research and Response Paper Due Dear Wary in Washington, Do not fear your concerns are completely founded and your questions are actually becoming more and more common. Are children spending too much time on the internet? Are they using it for all the wrong reasons? Is it going to make them antisocial or more easily depressed? Is the internet becoming a social crutch that will hinder their ability to interact with people face to face? It is definitely true that we have become a society entirely dependent on technology, children are no different. They are exposed to and benefit from computer literacy in schools, some students attend school exclusively online, and then, of course, there are the games, chat rooms, and other social media, like Facebook. However, there is one thing that a very dangerous, hurtful, and serious threats to the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of adolescents and teenagers every single day for some children who visit the internet; this occurrence is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a cruel child of our modern technological age. There are a number of actions that qualify as fitting under the umbrella of cyberbullying, including: 1. Sending unkind or threatening messages through emails or messaging boards. 2. Intentionally spreading untrue rumors onto the internet or text messages. 3. Posting inappropriate, offensive, or insulting photographs of a person onto a site with the sole purpose than to criticize them. 4. Taking another’s internet information and use it to invade the accounts in order to be unkind or may pretend to be someone else that you already know. 5. Participating in the “forwarding” of such messages is perpetuating the problem (Hatch, 2011). It is, essentially, the same type of degradation, insults, humiliations, and intended embarrassments that children experience in the physical world accept adapted to attacks via the internet. Fortunately there are practical and applicable answers for those concerns. There are a long list of pros and cons related to children, teenagers, and the internet. It can improve classroom learning, helps children keep up with the changing technology, can increase visual reasoning, and can, in some case, widen ones social circle. However, there are also, all of the negative, or, potentially, negative aspects, like loss of privacy, sedentary lifestyle, and the potential for cyberbullying ( Hatch, 2011). Individual people react differently than the next. For some children, the internet becomes their solace from the stressors in their lives, and is beneficial. The trick in this case is moderation. Like with anything there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.” When the time spent on the internet begins to supersede the living of their life, which causes them to shy away from all things that are not involving the computer, then there be an issue or problem that needs addressing. It is the responsibility of parents to understand the difference and take the time to be involved in the things your teens, and, especially, adolescents and pre-teens are doing when online. One such proposed negative effect is that excessive internet time, in fact, causes loneliness or depression. This is a rather broad statement. There are so many different factors that contribute to feelings of loneliness and in the case of depression, hereditary and genetic predisposition elements that have absolutely nothing to do with computer usage (Dean , 2010). There is, also, theories that too much internet can cause users to become addicted. Again, like with depression, there are so many factors to consider, like psychological predispositions and hereditary elements, that would contribute it solely to their computer use is a rather impractical argument (Siegel-Itzkovich, 2011). Therefore, for the most part, computers cannot be blamed directly, especially with limited data to support such theories. Cyberbullying is something that is happening every day, in every school, and in every state in the United States, and all over the world. Unfortunately, this occurrence only continues to become more and more common. Statistically speaking, 1 in 3 children have been involved in giving or receiving a cyber threat, at least 25% of children are bullied multiple times via their cell phones or social networks, and half of the children being bullied never tell their parents or speak up to anyone (Bullying Statistics, 2009);. Many professionals feel that cyberbullying is incredibly damaging to the self-esteem and self-image of the victims. These kids are harassed, physically, mentally, and emotionally, while at school and then that abuse continues into their home and onto their computers. The bullying becomes inescapable. As grim as thus sounds, do not worry. There is a light at the end of the, proverbial, tunnel. Cyberbullying can be fought and prevented. Several anti-bullying organizations offer tips to, both, kids and parents to help them address the issues of cyberbullying. The most important of which is parent involvement. Talk to your kids, discuss whether or not bullying is a reality in their lives. You should make certain that your children understand the importance of why it is wrong to bully others. Experts, also, suggest that if you that if you are the recipients of bullying never respond to the insults or threats, always keep a record of the occurrences, and immediately block that person from your social networking site or email. They, also, suggest that parents should be “friended” by your children’s social networks so that you have access to the postings that appear and make a point to know what sites your kids are visiting on a regular basis (StopBullying.gov, 2013). Nearly 90% of teenagers are using the internet for email and social networking, those numbers are nearly equal for adolescents (Borzekowski, Cassel, Jackson, Subrahmanyam, Yan & Whitlock, 2006). It is a requirement of our modern society that we be, both, computer literate and computer savvy. Children today are a generation born and raised in the day to day advancements of technologies. Using the computer for education, personal edification, and as a means to socialize and as entertainment is becoming second nature. The best advice is to educate yourself on cyberbullying, be involved and aware of your child’s computer usage, and have open lines of communication so that your children feel comfortable coming to you with sensitive subjects, like being bullied. In the end, following these steps and the advice of the “anti-bullying” advocacy organizations you will have the tools to prepare, protect, and prevent your child’s internet experiences from being unpleasant or damaging. With the right tools you will go from “Wary in Washington” to “Well-Informed and Well-prepared in Washington.” References Borzekowski, D., Cassel, J., Jackson, L., Subrahmanyam, K., Yan, Z., & Whitlock, J. (2006). Internet use involves both pros and cons for children and adolescents, according to special issue of developmental psychology. American Psychological Association, 1. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2006/04/internet-use.aspx Dean , J. (2010, September 27). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/4-internet-psychology-myths.php Hatch, K. E. (2011). Determining the effects of technology on children. University of Rhode Island: Seniors Honors Projects, 1-51. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1212&context=srhonorsprog Siegel-Itzkovich, J. (2011, October 15). New worlds: The pros and cons of youth's internet usage. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved from http://www.jpost.com/Enviro-Tech/New-Worlds-The-pros-and-cons-of-youths-internet-usage Bullying Statistics. (2009). Cyber bullying statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html StopBullying.gov. (2013). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/ Read More