The age of information has reached out to us in so many different ways, but no one is affected by it as much as teenagers. With access to the Internet, they have a plethora of choices for which they can communicate that, we ourselves, could never have imagined at that age. The problem with the many options is that, unlike the real-life offline (and in very ”real time”) bullies we dealt with as kids, there are “cyber-bullies” out there waiting to prey on these kids from every angle possible; from MySpace, to FaceBook, to Instant messaging and “texting,” there are more opportunities for your kids to become victims of bullying than ever before.
So why is bullying so much more prevalent via these methods than the old-fashioned face-to-face “meet me on the playground” method used in the good ole’ days? The answer is simple, really. You see, psychologists say that kids are simply much less afraid to say something mean to another via text. Add to that the fact that many of these kids who are doing the bullying say it’s just faster and simpler to hurt someone through a MySpace page or by “texting” them. Not to mention, in many cases, the bully will never have to face the one they’ve harmed since much of the content is forwarded, thus making it difficult to trace the source and allowing the bully to get away with ever having to face the consequences of their actions.
Meanwhile, the words are harsh. Very harsh. If you need an example, just check out bullyonline.org to see for yourself. The Gorilla was shocked at some of the very real examples of the incredibly cruel things kids posted about other kids they don’t like- for lots of other kids to see. It is humiliating beyond words for these kids being harassed and often they have very little recourse for their suffering. Many kids reported feeling depressed after being victimized in this way and psychologists say that often these kids suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One case in Missouri involved a thirteen-year-old girl, who committed suicide after receiving a series of harassing My Space messages, which suggested that none of her friends really liked her and that the world would “be a better place” if she weren’t in it! That incident led the city of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri to unanimously pass a measure making online harassment a crime, punishable by a up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail. The Gorilla feels strongly that we must watch and be aware of what our kids are doing, and more importantly, what they are saying (you would be surprised) and what is being said about them. For more examples and information on how to teach your kids “online responsibility” go to McGruff.org and check out the “Shrink The Bully” section to learn how. You may also go to bullyonline.org for more information and help.