Sunday, October 5, 2008

Cyberbullying


According to recent studies, cyberbullying is a bigger deal than one might typically consider.

A study released this week shows that 3 out of 4 teens were bullied online over the last year, but, even more importantly only 1 in 10 of those kids told their parents or another adult about it.

The psychologists who followed through this study fear that most parents may not understand the vitality of the Internet to the social lives of their teens. According to the lead psychologist in the study, it is important that parents talk with their kids about what they may foresee when they join the Internet world.

Now, I know that this may not be only pertaining to blogging, but, I found it interesting that since the Internet has become such an integral part of our generation, that "blogging etiquette" is now something that child development professionals feel is now yet another talk that parents must have with their teens. Now, in a world, where all parents would follow these parental tips, would this have an effect over the blogging community? Now, given, I understand that Would people be less likely to be so judgmental and personal about their public commentary?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have been saying this for months, as the issue gets worse and worse. Kids can’t comprehend the fact that the Internet translates to the real world and parents can’t understand the power an average kid feels with anonymity and the power to bully. Internet etiquette in general is a conversation every parent needs to have for sure, but at the same time they must realize that just as in real life, kids won’t tell you everything. Fortunately there are tools to help parents protect their kids from cyberbullies or (worse) themselves. Monitoring software programs like our PC Pandora (www.pcpandora.com) will help parents find out if their child is being bullied or potentially IS the bully. Until parents have the knowledge of what is happening, they are powerless to do anything about the situation.

Shannon N. said...

I don't understand why people don't pay more attention to this sort of stuff... does anyone remember the whole MySpace incident when a PARENT got involved in cyberbullying?! I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure the girl who was being bullied then killed herself. How AWFUL is all this?

Its like people (kids and adults) have a hard time understanding that the internet is reality. What you do in cyberspace has real implications.

I hope more people take note of programs such as PC Pandora and talk to their kids about how to behave online. I hate hearing about cyberbullying only in reference to a situation gone wrong.

mandimex said...

i remember when i was in middle school and chatting became a huge ordeal to communicate with other people from our neighboring school. whenever someone found out that a girl was talking to their ex boyfriends from another school they would make up fake names and begin bullying the other girl for being a homewrecker. as immature as it was then it still is now but people should really monitor these things. after all the last serious incident i can recall is when that little girl killed herself after her online bf broke up with her only to find out it was a mother who posed as her bf and said nasty things to her that led her to her death. sad but true.