Some teens don’t know this but cyberbullying is a criminal act.
By Jose Colon
The internet has become a big problem, and it’s getting harder to get teens off of it. The internet was a beautiful thing when it was first created for everyone back in the 90s.
The internet was first made for work, school, and talking to friends & family. However, in recent years teens have taken an amazing thing and made it into some teen’s worst nightmare.
Cyberbullying is a huge problem and it happens to a lot of people around the world. Some teens don’t know this but cyberbullying is a criminal act. Many teens feel that because it’s just the internet that nobody’s really getting hurt, but little do they know it’s causing many deaths and it’s causing many other teens to be insecure.
Many teens feel that just because it’s just the internet that nobody’s really getting hurt, but little do they know it’s causing many deaths and it’s causing many people to be insecure.
Cyber bullying has become such a tremendous issue that laws have been created to protect teens and even adults. People who tend to be doing the act don’t really understand what the consequences are or that there are laws for any type of bullying especially cyberbullying.
Crimes that are considered cyberbullying are: “(1) threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person; (2) knowingly sends, posts, comments, requests, suggests, or proposes any lewd, indecent, or obscene material to or about a person with the intent to emotionally harm a reasonable person or place a reasonable person in fear of physical or emotional harm to this person; or (3) threatens to commit any crime against the person or the person’s property.” (Cyberbullying Research Center).
Those laws were the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act” so that means it even applies on school grounds. If teens understand that what they’re doing is wrong but they keep committing the act, the real question why does it happen?
Why does cyberbullying happen? My answer to that question is that sometimes kids feel like they have nothing good in life so when they see another student prospering, they see an opportunity to put them down.
Here are some researchers points of view on why teens become cyberbullies: “Popular kids or teens may bully because They see it as a way to stay popular, and hurting others makes them feel powerful; Kids or teens who are less socially successful may bully because: It helps them cope with their own low self-esteem, they think it will help them fit in with their peers, and they have trouble empathizing with those they hurt.” (Delete Cyberbullying).
Even though the bullies have their own problems it should reflect on those who haven’t done anything wrong.
Getting bullied has a big effect on people especially on the internet because it will stay on the internet forever for people to remember it always.
But there’s a month where bullying has awareness it helps people see the real hurt it brings on others. That’s where National Bullying Prevention Month comes in, it’s the month of October where people show support and tell stories of their own experience.
“Every October, schools and organizations across the country join STOMP Out Bullying™ in observing National Bullying Prevention Month. The goal: encourage communities to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of bullying on all children of all ages.” (Stomp Out Bullying).
Nevertheless, it’s not just a month of support but they’re also given a weekly activity for anti-bullying.
“My pain might be the reason for someone’s laugh, but my laugh must never be the reason for someone’s pain.” (Charlie Chaplin).
Teens should take a stand against cyberbullies and try to help someone that is going through a rough time even if it’s the bully himself. Take a stand and help bring peace to broken hearts and minds.
The victim or even the bystanders seeing any type of bullying happen should always report it. You can do this my talking to a cyberbullying hotline or to a trusted adult. Here’s a number where teens can call and talk to someone about their situation, 1-800-829-0067. (Cyberbullying Hotline). It even has a member login if they want to make an account where they have support about their bullying problems.
So if you know someone going through bullying help them seek help and improve cyberbullying. Remember that cyberbullying has a serious effect on lives!
