Cyber Bullying and How it Leads to Bad News

Since fifty- eight percent of kids admit they have bullied online before, cyber bullying continues to be a big issue in the United States. It leads to suicide, suicide attempts, and poor work ethics during school, at home, and other places. Some reasons why certain people cyber bully is because they might be watching sitcoms or movies that include bullying and making fun of people. Other reasons people get the idea to bully is because they feel a state of jealousy or want revenge on someone. Unfortunately, as teens become more technology savvy, this bullying takes place on the Internet. Using the Internet to harass, bully, or assault people, and teens in general is not the right solution.

Using the Internet to bully certain people is not right, and it leads to many deaths. Megan Meier, a thirteen year old girl, was in to MySpace and other social networking sites when she got a friend request from a “hot” boy named Josh Evans. With her mother’s consent she added him. It all went downhill from there, Josh Evans along with other kids posted malicious comments on her MySpace and it eventually led to her hanging herself. Megan Meier had other problems too, she was overweight for a while, had ADD, and depression problems. Those problems plus the insulting comments really got to her and she died three weeks before her 14th birthday. This is a truly tragic story and goes to show you how bad cyber bullying is and can be. Another teen named Ryan Halligan took his own life in October of 2003. He was relentlessly bullied by the same group of guys once he got in to middle school. Ever since kindergarten he was in special education programs at his school until 5th grade, therefore he was not as academically caught up as some of the other students. That is what started his never ending bullying problem. As he got older he became a part of Instant Messaging. The night he took his own life was caused by a rumor spread by the same bully. This bully had told everyone Ryan had had something done to him that therefore caused him to be gay. Ryan was humiliated and the bullying only got worse. This is what led to his suicide. You can tell that bullying on the Internet is just as bad as bullying with words and in person.

Bullying on the Internet is harmful to teenagers, and statistics state that forty two percent of kids have been bullied online and one out of four kids has had it happen more than once. So many of these kids and teenagers have pushed their selves over the edge because of these vicious threats and comments they receive. In no way is cyber bullying right and many people have created groups against cyber bullying. They get together within their communities, schools, and even work places. They speak to kids and help them understand some of the consequences of cyber bullying and how bad it really is. Krysten Moore, former Miss Teen New Jersey is a big supporter of no cyber bullying. When she was a teenager she herself was cyber bullied by students and friends, she tells her story to many kids and how she once considered suicide. She has a big influence on kids and teens and speaks publicly often on television shows and events. Krysten hopes to make a difference in her community and in other locations. These stories go to show you that bullying is not right and eventually can cause deaths.

Cyber bullying takes place in many places and different types of bills and laws are trying to get passed against this issue in our nation’s capital. A bill aimed to make cyber bullying a federal crime is being considered in Washington, D.C. I believe this bill should get passed because cyber bullying is not right in any way and causes so many deaths. Being a teenager in middle school I have a good outlook on all different types of bullying. I have experienced bullying myself and can reasonably say it is not a great way to deal with certain situations. Bullying can easily affect someone’s self esteem and mental health. Once you know you are being cyber bullied or bullied in general, the right thing to do is tell a trusted parent, adult, or guardian. Cyber bullying can be a very hard thing to deal with, that way if an adult knows; you will have someone there for you and it can be easier to get through.

Cyber bullying can be a very difficult thing to deal with, and overall is a huge problem in the United States. Using the Internet to insult and bully people is in no way right. You can see how much it affects different people in society today. Cyber bullying is very dangerous and powerful, how would you deal with it?

"Cyberbullying Continued After Teen's Death." 29 March 2010. www.CBSNews.com. 21 September 2010 .