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PilotNews > News > The bull stops here
The bull stops here
Cyber bullying creates controversy

Grace Pettit
Mar 20, 2008

Instituting a solid foundation throughout Missouri, schools have taken drastic measurers, enforcing laws over day-to-day issues ranging from attendance to home schooling   according to the 1995 State Statute.
Due partially to recent events involving a 13-year-old girl of Dardenne Prairie, MO, cyber bullying has established itself into today’s society with help from the internet’s allowance for concealed identities.
Over a year ago, Oct. 16, 2006, Ron and Tina Meier walked into their daughter’s room to find that she had committed suicide.  Megan Meier, 13, had been communicating via MySpace.com with whom she thought was a boy named Josh Evans; the Meier’s neighbor, Lori Drew and her employee Ashley Grills later confessed to have fabricated the blog.
This website created an opportunity for the Drews to spy on what Megan was saying concerning their daughter, although the two girls had fallen out of a friendship, Grills, Drew and her daughter continued with the hoax.  
Establishing a friendship between Megan and the fictitious Josh, Drew and Grills began malicious bullying through MySpace.com, according to stltoday.com. Studies prove females prefer the use of non face- to-face harassment two to one, from the American Educational Research Association (AERA).    
“It’s becoming more and more of a problem in general.  Cyber bullying allows a bully to be more anonymous, not face to face and creating a less physical, more emotional attack; and it does have more of an impact on kids,” said Jon Riethmeier, guidance director.
Within the United States alone, over 5.7 million teens are involved with bullying, though 18.4 percent more within the middle schools than high schools, according to U.S. Department of Justice.  Cyber bullying, which is currently on the rise, affects students through technology including e-mail, blogs, and text messages.  80 percent of children between the ages of 12-14 experience bullying online; while 20 percent under the age of 18 being sexually solicited, according to Techlearning.com.
As of now monitoring cyber bullies  proves unsuccessful. Unreliable identification allows users to send messages anonymously, disguising the true violator.
“I’ve seen people be made fun of online. At the time it didn’t seem to be bad, but after that person said they hated being bullied online.  You’ve got to be careful,” said Christian Bankhead (10).
Unfortunately, the hazard of the internet now prohibits certain websites at school, inciting controversy.  Search engines including Google and Yahoo present helpful websites, but within seconds of choosing one a  Fortinet’s Fortiguard web filter pops across the screen.   
“The filtering system that’s in place is automatic; we block certain categories, for example games, and the system automatically blocks sites with games.  We don’t block sites manually,” said Dominic Jaggie, technology department.
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), passed in Dec. 2000, restricts the access allowed within schools and libraries.  Failure to enforce technology protection procedures would lead to loss of federal funding for schools.
Luckily, actions are underway to suppress and completely expunge cyber bullying.  The Beatbullying campaign, sponsored by YouTube.com, is the first anti-bullying channel produced by celebrities. Patrick Stewart, Leona Lewis and many other stars create video messages to help inspire children affected by cyber bullying.  The program allows kids to post videos and messages about their experiences with cyber bullying on the YouTube channel.  
It also provides teens, parents, and teachers with helpful information and advice to aid in the end of bullying online.
Coinciding, INOBTR ( “I Know Better”) is Missouri’s coalition to delete online predators.  Its goal is to increase public awareness of the exploitation  involved with crimes online, along with the help of corporate and community leaders.
Bullying online or off  continues as an everyday occurrence, showing defiance against these violators will help aid in the depletion of bullying.  So if someone you know is being effected speak out , or visit BullyingUK.com or PointSmartClickSafe.org for further assistance. 

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