Cyberbullying: The New Online Threat

Cyberbullying is fast becoming a serious threat to young people because it can kill. Cases of adolescents committing suicide because of nameless, faceless online threats are becoming a growing concern. A case in point is that involving a male teenager who was bullied because of his sexual orientation. Another case involved a thirteen year old girl whose suicide was the result of a malicious hoax perpetrated by the mother of the victim's friend. According to the National Crime Prevention Center, cases of cyberbullying are on the rise.

What Do Statistics Tell Us about Cyberbullying?

Over 40% of all teenagers with internet access have reported being bullied online. However, only 10% of children bullied reported the incident to their parents. Only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.

While only 9% of children ages 10-17 experienced online threats in 2000, the percentage has risen to 50% by 2008. One possible reason is the increase in use of the internet as a vehicle for socializing and the increased technical dexterity of teenagers who do use the internet.

The most common virtual sites for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking sites and instant messaging systems.These are all online communication sites popular with the younger set today. Cell phones and digital cameras are also becoming a growing concern. An increasing number of teenagers are worried that photos may be taken of them without their consent with the use of cell-phone cameras.

What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying?

The best solution is education. The internet is fast becoming a powerful tool for socializing and dissemination of information. Children must be taught the basics of personal privacy, respect for others and consequences of actions. Very often, children are deceived by the sense of anonymity communication over the internet seems to suggest. After all, they can sign in with a different name or use avatars without revealing their own identities. They think that just because their identities are not obvious to the victim, the crime has been "erased."

Parents need to be more vigilant about their children's use of the internet. How often do we really monitor what our teenager is doing at the computer? Adult supervision, as well as intervention, not only helps to educate our young people about a medium that is becoming more and more explosive, it encourages them discern the difference between using a tool for social benefit and using a tool for social aggression.

Like the car and alcohol, the internet is something we, as parents, must own responsibility for in terms of safe use and access by our children.