CYBER BULLYING

Cyber bullying refers to “bullying through information and communication technologies”-Webster n.d

Whilst cyber bullying is emotional and psychological effects are devastating for the victim and can often lead to suicide and depression. Cyber bulling in terms of social networks is a huge issue as more than 50% of American teenagers aged from 12 to 17 use social networking sites. Online bullying is often seen as the easy way out. Social Networking sites such as Twitter act as a platform where bullies can say things they might not usually say to someone in person. Besides that, the words or rumours that are shared are just hurtful.  Bullies often feel more confident because they can contact their victims anytime and anywhere.

For example in 2009, a 14 year old girl committed suicide because of cyber bulling. The daughter’s mother spoke out in an ABC news report and explained that “Friday night she was on the internet and told me about some message that had come through, and she wanted to die because of the message. I laid in bed with her and we discussed it for about an hour and she left me fairly happy. I can guarantee you if she didn’t go on the internet Friday night she’d be alive today.” It is clear state that social networking sites aid in the prominence of cyber bulling which is one of the negative impacts that social networking sites has on society today.