Since the Internet has been around there has been cyber bullying. This form of bullying is even more cowardly than normal bullying because, anyone can do it without the victim knowing who it is. Eliminating the face to face encounter that has to do with bullying, has made it easier for all people to participate in this cruel act. Face to face bullying or cyber bullying?, which of the two is more devastating? Cyber bullying in many ways is more devastating in both controlling and what the victims do to themselves. Most people when they hear the words "cyber bullying" think of a time they heard a story about it or remember when they either were victim or the bully. No kid no matter what they have done, deserve to be bullied whether face to face or over the Internet. There are many stories and cases of bullying that sadly end in suicide, or attempted suicide. All this could be prevent if only people around the world would just take a minute to think, "what if I was the person I am doing this to?"
A far too popular case that most people think of when cyber bullying is mentioned, is "The Megan Meier case". This worldwide story tragically is one of the many cases of bullying that drives the victim to take their own life. Bullying should not grow to an extent like this where, the victim thinks the only way to escape the pain is death. In this case it started as a so called "prank" and to find out if Megan Meier was gossiping about her neighbors daughter. Lori Drew, and Ashley Grills both adults created an account to talk with and find out if Megan was talking about Lori's daughter, this soon harmless prank to them would turn quick, into a severe case of bullying. Both Lori, and Ashley participated in sending message's to Megan, starting off seemingly harmless but then turning bad. Trying to end the whole scheme Lori and Ashley sent the next sentence to Megan Meier, which pushed her over the edge and causing her to commit suicide, "Our world would be a better place without you". Twenty minutes after sending this message Megan Meier was pronounced dead at only age thirteen. It is truly hard to think that anyone would stoup to doing this to a person who has done nothing wrong.
Bullying should never happen no matter the reasoning behind it. If you have ever been bullied or bullied someone you know the emotional, personal, and psycological effects that happen to the victim. The Internet has many great things on it, but with cyber bullying still out there it is effecting millions, and millions of children around the world. Cyber bullying causes many kids to take their own life each year because they have no other way to escape it. Cyber bullying can only be stopped one way and that is for the Internet to be no longer there, but in all likeliness when will that happen? Cyber bullying will be a virus that comes hand in hand with the Internet no matter what, but its up to everyone around the world to help decrease the amount of cyber bullying that goes on.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Megan_Meier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD9OUas5pDs
http://cyberbullying.us/blog/megan-meier-federal-cyberbullying-case-decided-today.html
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