The Rise of Cyber Bullying

by: PHIL MCKENNA
Summary:
A 2007 study by the US-based Pew Internet and American Life Project found that one-third of American teen Internet users have been targets of cyber bullies. And as online communications evolves from chatrooms and instant messaging to social networking, the venues where bullying occurs are becoming more central to young people's lives. Research into cyber-bullying is still in its infancy. But it is becoming clear that aspects of online communication encourage people to act aggressively, prompting them to do things they wouldn’t dare try in real life.

One of the examples was Ghyslain Rasa, aka “the Stars Wars Kid," learnt this the hard way. In the 2002, the overweight and awkward Canadian adolescent made a video of himself playing with a pretend light sabre, and left it lying around at school. When his classmates found the video in 2003, they posted it online as a joke. Raza was so distressed, he finished the school year from a psychiatric ward. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't his friends who found the footage so amusing. According to UK marketing film The Viral Factory, it became the most downloaded video of 2006.

This cyber bullying cases in Asia is rampant. In Malaysia as of October 2007, 60 cases of cyber bullying occurred while in Singapore, 80 such cases of cyber bullying was reported to WiredSafety, which is an online safety and help group.

Reflections:
I felt melancholy and sad for the victims that had be cyber bullied as they were innocent and further more, they were bullied by an unknown person. To me, if I were them, I think I would scold them back or ignore them which it could be difficult as when one was hurt by her/his appearance, characters or just she/he, they felt uneasy and wanted to change themselves. In the end, it was too hard to change and they gave up by choosing the easiest way- commit suicide. It was stupid for them as I think that they should also think for others; the ones that loved them, the ones that knew them and not themselves.

I think the solutions to the problem can be a lot. The victims can calm themselves down first and tell their parents about it. The parents can then either report this to the police or school. Then the police or the school can try to track down the bullies which most likely are impossible as many used their fake usernames in the cyber world. The victims if needed help can consult a teacher or anyone they trust in.

In my overall point of view, it is wrong for the bullies for what they have been doing. However, I think that without a network will be better although it will cause our technology to be lagging behind. If all human beings are responsible, no such problems will happen and I think even the big problem that is happening now, the Global Warming can be prevented too as we are responsible in what we are creating.