Bullying Vs Traditional Bullying Research Paper

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In 2006, Missouri resident Megan Meier looked forward to turning 14 and having her braces removed. Three weeks before her birthday, however, Megan would become the victim of a “cruel cyber hoax,” devastating her family and friends, as well as the country, after taking her own life (Steinhauer; Parents). Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman and talented violinist, jumped off George Washington Bridge near Manhattan in 2010 after his roommate streamed an online video of him having an intimate encounter with another man (Tyler). Extreme cases such as these are only occasionally seen, but lower profile instances of cyber bullying occur across the nation each day. Although some may argue that the statistics are insufficient to assume cyber bullying is directly linked to severe incidents such as suicide among teens, and that traditional bullying remains a prevalent issue despite programs created to address it, surveys taken by the Cyber Bullying Research Center as well as independent researchers make it clear that cyber bullying is a growing concern that must be confronted for the well being of a population becoming ever more immersed in a technological “cyber” world. StopBullying.gov, an organization working to increase awareness of bullying and its effects, defines “bullying” as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children (not to say bullying cannot take place in adult environments, as well) that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.” This behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated (Bullying). Sadly, children who were bullied are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression and consider self-harm and suicide later in life (Bullying by Peers). Most everyone is familiar with the traditional face-to-face bullying, but in a world that has increasingly turned to its electronic devices as an outlet for social media, a particularly new form of bullying has emerged, known as cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is the use of cell phones, the Internet, or other means of electronics to spread hurtful or demeaning information about another person. This information can come in multiple forms, generally text, photos, or videos (Cyberbullying). Various mediums can be used to spread such information, including email, social network sites, etc. Cyber bullying may be seen as an advantageous alternative to the more traditional form of bullying because the bully is able to act in anonymity while distanced from the victim and can do so without properly considering the consequences that he/she would be aware of during a face-to-face confrontation. While statistics on the topic often vary, research has shown that up to one in three people between the ages of 11 and 17 have experienced cyber bullying, with girls three times more likely to be attacked (Doucet). A 2010 survey of students 11 to 18, administered by the Cyber Bullying Research Center, found that 20 percent of the participating students had been cyber bullied—received email threats, had rumors spread about them online, had embarrassing photos or videos posted …show more content…
Whereas traditional bullying is usually limited to a small group of witnesses, an embarrassing Internet attack can spread throughout a school in seconds. In addition, unlike victims of traditional bullying who might feel safe at home, victims of cyber bullying can be attacked at any time from anywhere, through mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. It is safe to assume that this feeling of inescapability is what allows cyber bullying to have a greater impact on its victims than traditional bullying. As cyber bullying is more invasive in personal life than traditional face-to-face bullying, the consequences that follow cyber bullying are often more severe, damaging reputations and ruining lives (Foxman), and in the worst cases, victims feeling they have no other option of escape except kill themselves …show more content…
Technological advances of the past two decades have created a “cyber” world, allowing instant communication, information sharing, and an interconnectedness never before experienced in the world. With these advantages also comes the potential for abuse of such power. One abuse that has emerged is cyber bullying. Check the numbers. Cyber bullying is increasing, and it will continue to grow until met with educational programs that encourage awareness and action against it. The biggest obstacle to overcome is convincing the teen majority of the cyber world that cyber space should be a place of positive use, as opposed to a dystopia of harmful

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