“Am I Taking Crazy Pills or is Nicole Kidman the Worst Actress in the World?"
Source: Facebook 2010
This is the name of a group created in the world’s leading social networking site, Facebook. As if the name of the group is not degrading enough, members of that hate group are so filled with ‘loathing and spite they are inspired to digitally alter photos so she looks 100 years old or attack her entirely innocent newborn baby’, according to Fox News (2008). In the same article entitled Nicole Kidman Takes a Beating on Facebook, it is mentioned that viewers of that Facebook page will be exposed to the ‘horrible, disturbing, catty world of Kidman haters’.
What would you do if the above were to be your images?
Source: Facebook 2010, taken from Kidman's hate page
This is a case of cyber bullying, which has a steady rise of 2-3% every year over the last 3 years (Herald Sun 2010). As defined by Patchin & Hinduja (2006), cyber bullying consists of ‘willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text’.
I am sad to reveal that this virtual form of bullying is unfortunately common and happening around the world. A group of high school students in Kuala Lumpur posted atrocious comments such as “Let's slice her boobs and rub chilli on them roast her pubic hair and make her eat them," in a forum about a certain school prefect that apparently made their life ‘miserable’ (Anandarajah 2004). In January 2010, 15-year-old Phoebe Prince in Massachusetts took her own life after being ‘taunted’ by ‘school bullies’ for months ‘through…Facebook, and other social networking sites’ (Fox News 2010).
The Internet, in my viewpoint is providing too much freedom and platforms to do malevolence. The keyword here is access. Prof. Donna Cross, of Edith Cowan University said that “more young people are spending more time online, or getting mobile phones. So their exposure is greater, and so is the risk of things happening to them” (Betts 2010). So what drives these people who have access to do malice? Anonymity. This enables people to bully and verbally attack all they want with no fear or repercussion whatsoever. Shariff & Loff (2007) describes cyber bullying as ‘especially insidious’ due to its ‘anonymous nature’. Unjustly, offenders usually get away from committing cyber bullying. According to Campbell (2005), ‘perpetrators can often not be identified’.
What can be done about it then? In my opinion, tightened or harsher laws on cyber bullying will not curb this problem. Why? Because these laws can only be exerted if a report is made. Unfortunately, most cases of cyber bullying are unreported, for victims are engulfed with fear of being back lashed, that is, instead of receiving mercy and support, they get penalised instead. Beale & Hall (2007) said that victims are afraid that ‘their computers will be taken away or will be barred from using the Internet’. Therefore, if a victim opens up, be supportive and helpful. ‘Stay calm and keep lines of communication and trust open’ to help the victim (Beale & Hall 2007).
For more information on how to combat cyber bullying, click here.
What can be done about it then? In my opinion, tightened or harsher laws on cyber bullying will not curb this problem. Why? Because these laws can only be exerted if a report is made. Unfortunately, most cases of cyber bullying are unreported, for victims are engulfed with fear of being back lashed, that is, instead of receiving mercy and support, they get penalised instead. Beale & Hall (2007) said that victims are afraid that ‘their computers will be taken away or will be barred from using the Internet’. Therefore, if a victim opens up, be supportive and helpful. ‘Stay calm and keep lines of communication and trust open’ to help the victim (Beale & Hall 2007).
For more information on how to combat cyber bullying, click here.
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References
Anandarajah, A 2004, 'Cyber Bully', New Straits Times 30 September, viewed 15 June 2010, <http://www.cybersecurity.my/en/knowledge_bank/news/2004/main/detail/904/index.html>.
Beale, AV & Hall, KR 2007, ‘Cyberbullying: What School Administrators (and Parents) Can Do’, The Clearing House, vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 8-12.
Betts, M 2010, 'Federal Police research finds up to one in three teens are cyber bullied', Herald Sun 10 April, viewed 15 June, <http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/federal-police-research-finds-up-to-one-in-three-teens-are-cyber-bullied/story-e6frf7kx-1225852033539>.
Campbell, MA 2005, 'Cyber Bullying: An Old Problem in a New Guise?', Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 68–76.
Anandarajah, A 2004, 'Cyber Bully', New Straits Times 30 September, viewed 15 June 2010, <http://www.cybersecurity.my/en/knowledge_bank/news/2004/main/detail/904/index.html>.
Beale, AV & Hall, KR 2007, ‘Cyberbullying: What School Administrators (and Parents) Can Do’, The Clearing House, vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 8-12.
Betts, M 2010, 'Federal Police research finds up to one in three teens are cyber bullied', Herald Sun 10 April, viewed 15 June, <http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/federal-police-research-finds-up-to-one-in-three-teens-are-cyber-bullied/story-e6frf7kx-1225852033539>.
Campbell, MA 2005, 'Cyber Bullying: An Old Problem in a New Guise?', Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 68–76.
Fox News 2 December 2008, 'Nicole Kidman Takes a Beating on Facebook', viewed 15 June 2010, <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460165,00.html>.
Fox News 27 January 2010, 'Two Massachusetts Teens Suspended in Cyber Bullying Suicide Case', viewed 15 June 2010, <http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/01/27/massachusetts-teens-suspended-cyber-bullying-suicide-case/>.
Patchin, JW & Hinduja, S 2006, 'Bullies Move Beyong the Schoolyard: A Preliminary Look at Cyberbullying', Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 148-169.
Shariff, S & Hoff, DL 2007, 'Cyber bullying: Clarifying Legal Boundaries for School Supervision in Cyberspace', International Journal of Cyber Criminology, vol. 1, no. 1, viewed 15 June 2010, <http://ccrimejournal.brinkster.net/Shaheen&Hoffijcc.htm>.
Patchin, JW & Hinduja, S 2006, 'Bullies Move Beyong the Schoolyard: A Preliminary Look at Cyberbullying', Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 148-169.
Shariff, S & Hoff, DL 2007, 'Cyber bullying: Clarifying Legal Boundaries for School Supervision in Cyberspace', International Journal of Cyber Criminology, vol. 1, no. 1, viewed 15 June 2010, <http://ccrimejournal.brinkster.net/Shaheen&Hoffijcc.htm>.
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