Cyber-bullying is becoming a hotter topic day by day. From computers, to lap tops, to cell phones, becoming a victim to cyber-bullying is now easier than it has ever been. As a matter of fact, these innovative technologies have contributed to the far worse and fresh term cyber-mobbing.
The analysis in Danah Boyd’s article “Overprotective parenting and bullying: Who is to blame for the suicide of Megan Meier?” one is able to decide for their self what they believe should be done in both bullying and cyber-bullying situations. In this case, Lori Drew claims she bullies this thirteen year-old girl because her daughter states that Megan has bullied her at school. “What we learn is that Lori viewed her acts as protective of her child who she believed was the victim of Megan’s dark side” (1, Drew). Maybe the unanswered question for parents is not how protective they should be of their children, but rather in what ways and to what extent. In an interview, CBS News sponsors the idea of parents monitoring and the like what their own children do and experience on-line. A 15 year-old girl named Phoebe Prince committed suicide back in January of 2010 due to what experts call cyber-mobbing. At first the bullying of this young girl was started in the school simply for being the new girl (she and her family had just moved to America from Ireland in the summer of 2009) and for also being pretty. As quoted by one of her best friends, “They were just jealous” (CBS News video). As the bullying progressed, more girls became involved and due to the help of innovative technology, the bullying turned into mobbing through a social networking system. Countless girls, relentlessly calling Phoebe names out of jealousy finally got to the new girl. She didn’t feel welcome, she felt she had nobody to turn to, and tragically committed suicide.
If only all parents were able to track what was going on with their kids’ lives via the web, many suicides would be preventable. This may be hard for parents but giving bullies a “taste of their own medicine” is absolutely not the way to deal with teenagers on this particular subject (refer to the Megan Meiers case). Unfortunately, it does not seem as though Phoebes’ friends and family were involved with and monitoring her on-line life and experiences. These are two cyber-bullying cases with the same outcome, but a somewhat different path to the tragedy. One mother was involved too much, while the other wasn’t involved enough. For the video on the Phoebe Prince case, follow the link below.
I agree that parents in their children's business can both a bad thing and a blessing. That is a horrible thing that happened to Phoebe (I actually had not heard that story) and I agree if her parents or friends had paid more attention the outcome may not have been the same. Yet when parents are too involved bad things also happen. Parents maybe just need to teach their kids about cyber bullying and pay some attention but helicopter over their children.
ReplyDeleteYour blog mentions the dual perspective that parents have to deal with. The age old debate of how much parent involvement should be in their child's everyday life. Finding that happy medium should prevent these tragedies but it is not that simple. One cannot prevent bullies in any way shape or form. Sadly, they too are keeping up with the times with their presence online.
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