We all know that kid. Brawny and hot-tempered, with and iron fist and thick head. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but confident nonetheless. He walks around fearless and only exudes one emotion, anger. At first sight, we can only think things of degrading nature: “I hope I’m at least stuffed in a locker close to my next class…that swirly is gonna make me smell all day long…goodbye lunch and allowance.” Yes, that kid is none other than your neighborhood bully.
Or perhaps you are more familiar with that girl—the stereotypical leader of the “mean girl” pack, who uses social power to degrade and mock you until you feel lost in an abyss of hurt and embarrassment. She spreads offensive rumors that can ruin your life. She is another prime example of a bully.
These general profiles—or concepts—of a bully are no longer constrained to such common perceptions. In fact, the neighborhood bully is an animal that has transformed into a beast with the presence of cyberspace—a beast access to a global audience and no boundaries. Cyberbullies can be anyone; all you need is mobile phone or computer with web access. The scope and shape of bullying has changed and the questions people are raising now are: who is responsible and how can this issue be combated? Cyberbullying is no joke. It is not some abstract, hypothetical threat to internet users; it is here and it is real. I plan to discuss the issues surrounding cyberbullying and potential government interaction.
“Cyberbullying—use of the internet, cell phones, or other technology to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person” (National Crime Prevention Center). The National Crime Prevention Center (NCPC) with the Harris Initiative Inc. commissioned a study to investigate the issue of cyberbullying among middle school and high school-aged students in the United Stated. Their results yielded some surprisingly harsh realities. According to this study, more than four in ten teens (43%) reported experiencing some type of cyberbullying in the past year. Another interesting trend: incidences were higher among females than males and the issue was more prevalent among 15 and 16 year-olds. The most prevalent emotions reported were by victims who felt angry (56%), hurt (33%), and embarrassed (32%). Moreover, many victims claimed to know their bullies; this finding debunks the assumption that most bullying occurs through encounters with anonymous users.
With this rampant epidemic of harassment through the internet, it is time for people to consider ways to combat this issue. The reality: regulation is complex and difficult. The NCPC quoted a police officer that described the internet in relation to regulation. He stated, “Imagine you lived in a city in which there was no police force, no rules, crime is rampant, you can say what ever you want to whomever you want, everyone lies and no one is too worries about it.”
Various states have passed legislation to criminalize cyberbullying. These laws raise debate with freedom of speech advocates who believe the internet should be free from any governmental interaction (Discovery News). Although many states have passed laws to combat cyberbullying, such laws do not exist on the federal level. There was a bill introduced in 2008 and 2010, but I suspect it was not passed due to the debate over First Amendment rights. Many civil rights groups are weary that vague language in the bill could lead to violations of rights, therefore, stifling the voice of the American people.
While the government may be debating this issue, some institutions are taking action by cracking down hard on cyberbullying. The College Anonymous Discussion Board (commonly referred to as College ACB) is under much scrutiny for its open platform that fosters an environment fueled by gossip and slander. Carolyn Witte (2010) of the Cornell Daily Sun claimed that College ACB is “a disease, it’s contagious and it’s addictive. Worse, it is self-destructive and undermines everything universities stand for.” Content constructed by anonymous users can be extremely offensive, false, and embarrassing; many believe it is another form of harassment, especially when users are talking directly about other users by name. Before College ACB, JuicyCampus was banned from various institutions for its harmful content and affects on students. Universities are debating whether to ban College ACB, but face debates with civil rights of students; additionally, a ban or lawsuit would contradict the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which states, “website users are not responsible for libel on their sites” (Witte). Cornell’s student body will be debating this issue more in the fall and the future will only tell whether this form of cyber bullying will be restricted.
Personally, I believe regulating this issue will be extremely difficult; but I also believe that limiting the instances of cyberbullying would assist in protecting users from harassment. Furthermore, I believe preventative measures should be taken to mitigate this epidemic. Banning a site like college ACB would be one step that could assist in lessening the blow of the “beast”—the bullies in cyber space. No person should fear using the internet, for it unlocks a world of opportunities to learn and grow. I believe more discussion should take place, and internet infrastructure should be built so that cyberbullying does not inhibit users from accessing such a robust and enhanced learning space.
References:
Cyberbullying: Trends and Tudes (2007). National Crime Prevention Center.
Exploring the Nature and Prevention of Bullying. http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3913
Why We Should All Hate College ACB (2010).
Is Cyber Bullying Illegal?(2010). Discovery News.
http://news.discovery.com/tech/is-cyber-bullying-illegal.html
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