Teen's Cyber-Bullying Suicide Now Reenters Public Consciousness

Even though it's been a year since the suicide death of 13-year-old Hope Witsell, many other stories like hers have now surfaced in the news. The recent death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, as well as the deaths of Ty Smalley and Jesse Logan, resulted in the technologically enhanced plight of cyber-bullying victims. Hope sent a sext to a peer that got into the wrong hands. Now her mother, Donna Witsell, has started a group called Hope's Warriors to combat this new kind of bullying by bringing further awareness to the public.

Prime Example of Cyber-Bullying & Efforts to Stop It

Hope, Clementi, Ty and Logan are not alone with their tragic deaths brought on by cyber-bullying; many others have suffered this same fate. Cyber-bullying is the use of a computer or other electronic device such as a cell phone to threaten, humiliate or intimidate an individual. A classic example is the death of 13-year-old Megan Meier, who was the first high-profile case of cyber-bullying.

This Missouri teenager struck up a friendship online at one of the popular social networking sites, MySpace. As a result, she suffered repeated harassment from a group of individuals, including adults. All she did was try to make friends with a new boy in her hometown who ended up being part of a cruel hoax. The bullying took its toll on Megan, who ended up committing suicide. After her shocking death, the community then rallied for laws to be passed.

Eventually, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt created the Internet Harassment Task Force to study and then create laws on cyber-bullying. It is now a standard for other states in the country to follow. The state of Missouri has toughed its laws on this type of bullying from a misdemeanor to a Class D Felony. Megan's mother, Tina Meier, says that change has to come from the parents first. She urges all parents to communicate with their children. Tina also said to find out what apps they are using, and for parents to be on those websites.

More Recommendations for Parents, Educators and Lawmakers

The most effective ways for parents to combat cyber-bullying against their children are the following:

1.) Be sure to teach them not to respond to offensive or threatening e-mail. Have them blocked or filtered instead.

2.) Save threatening messages by contacting your local law enforcement.

3.) Immediately contact the Internet service provider for abusive online activity.

Schools and educators can begin by investigating reports of cyber-bullying immediately. They need to contact the parents of the children involved. Also, closely monitor the behavior of the affected students, the ones being bullied and the bullies themselves. Above all else, they need to offer support to students. This kind of bullying isn't a phase, like with schoolyard bullying, because too many violent acts are now prevalent.

Other states, besides Missouri, are getting very tough on cyber-bullying, such as Arkansas and New Jersey. In Arkansas, school administrators have more freedom to punish individuals who harass fellow students. Also, they can take action even if it did not originate or take place on school grounds. New Jersey's law has always been tough on bullying. It wasn't until 2007 when they amended the law to include "electronic communication."

Other states will need the aid of parents and educators to contact their school board districts and other local and state lawmakers to put a serious dent into the insidious dilemma of cyber-bullying throughout the country.

SOURCES:

EBrady, "The Hope Witsell Tragedy - A Mother Steps Up to Stop Cell Phone Bullying", Famecrawler

Stories of Cyber Bullying, CyberBully Alert

Stefanie Olsen, "A rallying cry against cyberbullying", CNET News

"Lawmakers Help Educators Take Aim at Cyber Bullying", The Challenge