"Digital Courage": Internet Bullying Has Gone Too Far

I am a huge fan of YouTube and what it has provided for people in terms of opportunities to express themselves, make money, and even make a name for themselves.

However, whenever I am watching a video on YouTube, I can't help but scroll down and check out the comments. Maybe it's curiosity or maybe it's an attraction to see what people are sharing or thinking about the video. Sometimes, there are some humorous points, sarcastic observations, or even great insights regarding the video. Usually and unfortunately, I see comments that are rude, degrading, disrespectful and sometimes downright rude, either towards the user or the other user leaving comments.

It is to be expected that if you post something on YouTube, or Facebook, or an online blog that are you are going to receive some sort of response. You are putting your thoughts and views on probably the most powerful and public stage that we as people have. You are making yourself completely vulnerable to the opinions and thoughts of anyone who has access to what you have to say.

Also you cannot expect for everyone to agree with everything that you have to say. But as a person you expect the same respect that you would pay another person. Often times these comments turn into full blown arguments via comments and it does nothing but detract from the value of what is being presented.

People feel that because the internet is so impersonal that they are allowed to say whatever they like. And because they have a screen in front of them, with no actual contact with this person they are commenting on, they get braver and lose their filter. I like to call this "digital courage". Just as some people use alcohol to lubricate their social ability ("liquid courage"), some people use the faceless, anonymity of the internet to harass and bully. The internet has become a breeding ground for those people who feel the need to put other down and the bullies have moved from the playground to the internet.

When I started writing, I would read every comment that someone left and the more I read, the worse I felt about my writing. One user told me I needed to go back to Middle School and learn grammar. Another user commented that the article was pointless. These things are not as severe as what is said, but it still hurt to read those things. Now, I don't read the comments at all. I write these articles and put my all into every single one and am proud of what I produce.

Cyber bullies can have a harrowing effect on people nowadays, especially young children and teens who are probably on the internet the most, at least for social purposes. What results from internet bulling can be detrimental to the lives of those affected.

Online bullying can range from someone being called "stupid" to anything as serious as death threats, racial harrasment, gender harassment, sexual preference harassment, or any other harmful threats. There have been increasingly more and more reports of internet bullying related suicides; a trend that must be stopped.

Rebecca Black recently put a music video on YouTube, I'm sure you've all heard and didn't receive really any good feedback on it. Instead she was told to kill herself and that she sounded like a troll. These are the comments that concern me. These are the comments that parents should worry about. Rebecca's mother said it made her mad to hear and read such things about her daughter.

Internet bullying is just as bad, if not worse, than bullying on the playground. Internet bullying makes confronting the bully harder to do. When I was a kid, my Dad always said, "If anyone at school is bothering you, you talk to me, or talk to the teacher on yard duty." But what do you do when you can't stand up to the person, tell a teacher, or tell a moderator? Exclude yourself from participating? How does that teach someone to stand their ground and be who they are?

I believe a huge issue with internet bullying is the lack of parental control over what kids are doing on the internet. Moms and Dads are now using the computer, as much as they used to use to the television, so they can have "quiet time" and they can keep their kids busy without monitoring them. As we all know, the internet is far more open than television in terms of content andaccessibility. You can put on a channel for your kids and take the remote with you (I know kids are smart and figure out how to use a TV without a remote) or sit there with your kids as they watch TV. The internet too has safety filters that parents can set, but some don't know how or don't wish to take the time to utilize them and set them up.

As for the adults who are on YouTube and are leaving foul comments, there is really no excuse for not showing decorum when expressing oneself. However, I can bet that at one time, they were a playground bully who found a new way to bully anonymously and fulfill their urge to talk down to people.

Flatout, bullying in the internet needs more attention given to it and I know many want legislation put in place to counteract the online bullying, but as you know, the internet is a big place and hard to police.

You can visit online-bully.com to get more resources to help your kids or to simply learn more about online bullying.

You can follow David on twitter: @david_mehrwein