Cyberbullying: The Nation's New Epidemic

Cyberbullying has become a national epidemic. More and more teens and young adults are taking their own lives because of constant online harassment, and it is an issue that has no easy fix.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” But of three people interviewed at Empire High School — a school that uses laptops as its primary source for educating — only one included text messages in their definition of cyberbullying. In addition to that, none of the interviewed parties mentioned repeated or multiple attacks in their definition. This brings up the idea that knowing the problem is the first step to beginning to solve it.

Also, all of the questioned parties knew what effect cyberbullying had on its victims, most likely due to recent media publicity. All three mentioned sadness and depression, two of the three mentioned suicide and one mentioned loss of self-esteem. All of these are right on target with the facts presented by the Cyberbullying Research Center. The research center mentions depression, sadness, anger, and frustration as well as embarrassment and lowered self-esteem.

Not only are the effects of cyberbullying painfully astonishing, but so is the number of people being bullied. Of the 4,400 students ages 11 through 18 who were polled in 2010, 20 percent said they had been a victim at least once in their lives. That means 880 of these students have been bullied and are most likely scarred in some way from the experience. Unfortunately, of the three students I interviewed, one admitted to being cyberbullied, but did not disclose the reason behind it.

On the flip side though, thankfully none of the interviewed students said they had witnessed someone else being bullied. But all of them said that if they had witnessed it they would have taken measures to stop it. The Cyberbullying Research Center says“bystanders can make a huge difference in improving the situation for cyberbullying victims, who often feel helpless and hopeless and need someone to come to the rescue. Bystanders should note what they see and when. They should tell an adult … and never directly or indirectly contribute to the situation.”

Another interesting aspect of the students' cyberbullying answers was that only one of the three students said they would tell an adult if they were being bullied. But according to the Cyberbullying Research Center, telling an adult was the No. 1 way to stop bullying. Clearly, the media needs to shed as much light on what to do if students are being bullied as they do the tragic consequences of it.

Finally, how do we cure the epidemic, and what challenges do we face in doing so? Challenge one: People do not see the harm associated with it. Challenge two: Who is willing to step up and take responsibility for responding to inappropriate use of technology?

When asked how they would go about solving the problem, the three interviewed students mentioned heavy fines, as well as preventative rules regarding cyberspace. Who will help the victims of cyberbullying? Many parents don’t have the technological skills to keep up with their children. Teachers and schools are wary about involving themselves in matters outside of school. Law enforcement is hesitant to get involved unless there is clear evidence of a crime. So education and awareness may be the first step in the solution. But who will take other steps in the journey to find the cure?

The question I want answered is, "Who is up to the task of facing this horrific force? Who is the one person that teens and young adults are shaped by most? Besides the obvious answer of parents, teachers are next in line.

So, how can teachers take a stand in the fight against cyberbullying? Do what they do best: educate. Educate students about how to avoid being in situations where cyberbullying can arise. Tell them to never pass along harmful or cruel messages or images.

Also, tell them that it is OK to tell a parent or adult. Another step that teachers can take is to use their position of power in order to make cyberbullying education key throughout the school. And most importantly, be a friend to the students, and be the person that they can trust and come to when they're not comfortable talking to their parents.
 

About the author: Nicolette Gomez is a student at Empire High School in Arizona.