1. [1]
Hoo Ci Ying Nexus International School
CYBERBULLYINGISONTHERISE...
Should social networking sites and schools do more to combat cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying has become a
pressing issue since the birth of
social networking sites. In some
countries like the United States
and South Korea, cyber bullying
has become such a serious
problem that the governments had
taken the initiative to implement
laws regarding cyber bullying. Many
young people who became victims
to cyber bullying had committed
suicide and this has spark concern
for parents, schools and
lawmakers. My focus question is
“Should social networking sites
and lawmakers do more to
combat cyber bullying?”
The key issues that I would be
looking at are:
• What is cyber bullying?
• Why does cyber bullying
occur?
• Is cyber bullying becoming
a serious issue worldwide?
• How has cyber bullying
impacted the victims?
• What is being done to
combat cyber bullying?
• Should more be done to
combat cyber bullying?
Whose responsibility is it?
CYBER BULLYING
3. [3]
Global Perspectives
In Australia, under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, using
a carriage service (like the Internet or a mobile phone) to
harass others is considered a criminal offense. For those
who are found guilty, the maximum sentence is 3 years in
prison. However, there are cases yet to have been brought
under this law. Education is actively employed to help reduce
cyber bullying. For example, the Telstra Foundation launched
a program worth $2 million to minimize bullying of children
through the Internet and mobile devices.
Australia
Canada has a defamation law that protects the reputation of an
individual and can be employed for serious cases of cyber
bullying. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, the penalty is up
to 5 years of imprisonment. Section 264 of the Criminal Code
of Canada makes it a criminal offense to harass people through
electronic devices. Canada is a country that is a pioneer for
implementing laws to protect its civilians from cyber
harassment.The Canadian government has updated its
definition of criminal harassment in accordance to technology;
therefore, it can deal with severe cases of cyber bullying.The
offender would serve up to 10 years in prison.
Canada
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 48
states have anti-bullying laws or laws that require schools to
have laws that combat cyber bullying. However, in Arizona,
Delaware, Florida, Georgia and Illinois, schools are only
responsible for cyber bullying that happens in school-owned or
-leased computers. Lawmakers are also seeking to tighten laws
to combat cyber bullying more effectively. Nevertheless, legal
experts have also voiced their concern that laws can possibly
violate the right to free speech.
The United States
4. [4]
According to cyber law expert and Supreme Court
advocate Pawan Dunggal, currently there are no laws in
India pertaining to cyber bullying.The laws are somewhat
vague as to the punishment of cyber bullies.The
Information Technology Act, 2000, deals with most cases
related to cyber bullying. (The Telegraph, 2012) Even so,
there is no direct mention of the term “cyber bullying”,
naming only two kinds of offenses that are related to this: i)
publishing of information which is obscene (Act 67) and ii)
breach of confidentiality and privacy (Act 72).
India
References :
- http://www.careerlauncher.com/lstcontent/plansuppliments/attachments/40/64/Cyber
%20bullying%20amongst%20school%20students%20in%20India.pdf
- http://jjie.org/resources/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FOSI-Report-Cyberbullying-A-
Global-Concern.pdf
This shows that cyber bullying
does not happen only in the
West, but in Asia as well...
5. [5]
LOREM IPSUM
Malesuada quis, quis.
Donec ac sapien. Ut
orci. Duis ultricies,
metus a feugiat,
dolor mauris
convallis est, quis
mattis lacus eu
augue. Sed facilisis.
DOLOR SIT AMET
Ligula nulla pretium,
rhoncus fermentum,
enim integer
volutpat. Nisl turpis
est, vel elit, congue
wisi enim nunc
ultricies sit,
tincidunt. Maecenas.
A DOLOR NETUS DUI
Aliquet, sagittis,
mauris, vel eu libero
cras. Interdum at.
Eget habitasse sociis
elementum est, ipsum
purus pede porttitor
class, aliquet dolor
sed ut auctor.
NATIONALPERSPECTIVE
6. [6]
National Perspective
Why is cyber bullying on the rise?
South Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world, 94.3%
of households have access to the Internet and 99% of its citizens
aged 10 to 39 use the Internet. However, cyber bullying is on the
rise in South Korea. Reports of cyber bullying received by Korea’s
Internet Commission tripled in 2006 to 2007 alone. Many
celebrities, like the late Jeong Da Bin, Choi Jin Shil and Lee Eun Ji
have fallen victim to relentless online harassment.
In an effort to reduce the negative things posted online and create a
more positive atmosphere, a professor of English at Konkuk
University in Seoul, Min Byoung Chul, encouraged his students to
post positive comments in various Internet chat rooms and went on
to establish the Sunfull movement.According to Min, research says
that a large number of cyber bullies are below the age of 30.
In South Korea, the young are required to be extremely polite in
person.They are expected to obey their ‘sunbaes’ or in other
words, seniors, parents, teachers, employers and anyone whose
social ranking is higher than them.A foreigner who is new to the
Korean language would be overwhelmed by the amount of
honorifics they have to learn.As a result, the young people begin to
turn to the Internet as a way of letting loose their anger and
frustration.
“Young kids, they’re stressed out because of schoolwork, they have
to prepare for their college entrance examinations, and they just
write whatever they feel.That’s one of the ways, so to speak, [to
release] their frustration and stress,” said Min.
7. [7]
What is the government doing?
In 2007, the South Korean government has enforced a law to prevent
cyber bullying. Under the new law, implemented by the Ministry of
Information, cyber bullies are no longer able to use false identities
online.The “Internet real-name system” makes it mandatory for the
country’s major portals and news media websites to keep a record of
the identification of their users when they post entries online. (The
Sunday Herald, 2007) However, many people felt that this violates their
right to free speech and dissuades people from speaking out for fear
of being punished. In 2012, the Constitutional Court ruled that the
said law is unconstitutional. (ETCB, 2012) Nevertheless, cyber bullying
is such a serious problem in Korea that in a survey conducted by
Tahseen Ismail on 272 South Korean university students, 57% of them
said that the Real Name System is necessary to keep cyber bullies at
bay. (Ismail, 2010)
8. [8]
POSSIBLE SCENARIOS POSSIBLE OUTCOMESPOSSIBLE OUTCOMES
Hannah, a 16 years old girl, has
recently committed suicide
because of cyber bullying. Her
parents insist that social
networking sites have tighter
control over what their users
are posting online.
Social networking sites like
Facebook and Twitter agree to do
so.
This would lead to self-
censorship for fear of
persecution. People feel that they
lose their right to free speech
and privacy.This might result in a
public outcry especially from free
speech activists.
Hannah, a 16 years old girl, has
recently committed suicide
because of cyber bullying. Her
parents insist that social
networking sites have tighter
control over what their users
are posting online.
Social networking sites refuse to
do so but provide reporting
options for its users.
Cyber bullying cases may still
continue to rise, as cyber bullies
are not afraid of prosecution.
Nevertheless, the reporting
options helps users to deal with
cyber bullying.This also ensures
that users can enjoy free speech.
What if all the countries decide
to enforce the Real Name
System?
This may effectively reduce cyber bullying, as they are no longer
able to use false identities to post malicious comments online. It
also encourages people to be more civilized online. However, this
would result in self-censorship. People may be afraid to voice their
opinions especially the ones regarding the government for fear of
punishment.
This may effectively reduce cyber bullying, as they are no longer
able to use false identities to post malicious comments online. It
also encourages people to be more civilized online. However, this
would result in self-censorship. People may be afraid to voice their
opinions especially the ones regarding the government for fear of
punishment.
What if the government decides
to hold social networking sites
responsible for cyber bullying?
Social networking sites may then be forced to take more actions to
curb cyber bullying.This means that there would be constant
monitoring of their users’ activities. It may discourage cyber
bullying, but at the same time, it could infringe our right to free
speech.There is also the danger that these sites would have to be
shut down either due to fear of prosecution or because of the
court’s verdict.
Social networking sites may then be forced to take more actions to
curb cyber bullying.This means that there would be constant
monitoring of their users’ activities. It may discourage cyber
bullying, but at the same time, it could infringe our right to free
speech.There is also the danger that these sites would have to be
shut down either due to fear of prosecution or because of the
court’s verdict.
Possible Scenarios and Outcomes
9. [9]
Possible Courses of Action
Parents
● Parents should educate their children about becoming a responsible user on the Internet.
● Children should be taught that it is wrong to cyber bully and how it could impact others.
● Children should know how what to do when they are cyber bullied. Parents should encourage their
kids to talk to them so that they can help solve the problem. Children should also be aware that
committing suicide is not the answer to cyber bullying.
Schools
● Invite speakers to give talks about cyber bullying in their respective schools.
● Organize a campaign or have a cyber bullying awareness week to educate their students.
● Monitor the school’s network to prevent students from misusing school computers.
Social networking sites
● Provide a help center for parents and users about how to deal with cyber bullying.
● Provide a reporting or blocking option for users and respond quickly to complaints.
● Terminate the accounts of that have been reported a few times by other users.
● They should require users to use their account responsibly and not for cyber bullying in their terms
and regulations.
Governments
● Organize educational talks to raise the public’s awareness regarding cyber bullying.
● Make cyber bullying a criminal offense.
● Implement stricter laws that address cyber bullying directly and keep it up to date with technology.A
more severe punishment should be enforced.
● Establish centers or organizations that provide help to victims of cyber bullying.
● Upgrade the nation’s Internet security system.
● Provide funds for organizations to launch programs which aim is to reduce cyber bullying.
11. [11]
Personally, I have not been cyber bullied before, but I have witnessed
how comments on social networking sites like Facebook have led to a
major fight between my fellow schoolmates. I know cyber bullying is
becoming a serious problem, but I had never expressed any concern
towards the issue as it didn’t affect me.As I further my research, I
realized that cyber bullying happens in my own country as well, just that
many of the cases go unreported. I also became aware of the severity of
the impacts of cyber bullying and that is not just something that
happens in the United States of America; it has become rampant in Asia
as well.
Nevertheless, the laws implemented by most countries are either too
vague or out of date with technology. I think all countries should follow
the footsteps of the Canadian government and enforce laws that
address the issue of cyber bullying directly and keep them up to date
with technology.To me, this is the most effective way of combating
cyber bullying. Monitoring the Internet would only infringe our rights to
free speech and privacy. It is also not the best way to deal with the issue
as people can just choose to use a foreign social networking site.
As for social networking sites, they should provide reporting options,
like what Facebook andYouTube has done.They should then respond
quickly to these reports so that the problem is solved quickly. I don’t
think there is a need for them to monitor their users’ activities as it
would be too much work and it is not their place to judge something as
what may be offensive to them may just be a harmless joke to the users.
Personal Perspective
12. [12]
Conclusion
Young people, especially teenagers, should be educated on how to handle cyber bullying and that
suicide is not the answer to their problems. Social networking sites and lawmakers should do
more to combat cyber bullying, although parents and schools do play a role in reducing cyber
bullying. Nevertheless, they must make sure that whatever measures that they take do not violate
our basic human rights. Governments should pay more attention to cyber bullying cases and
implement laws that addresses it directly. I hope that in the near future, more effective ways of
dealing with cyber bullying will be developed and people can go online without fear of becoming a
victim. (2041 words)
![[1]
Hoo Ci Ying Nexus International School
CYBERBULLYINGISONTHERISE...
Should social networking sites and schools do more to combat cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying has become a
pressing issue since the birth of
social networking sites. In some
countries like the United States
and South Korea, cyber bullying
has become such a serious
problem that the governments had
taken the initiative to implement
laws regarding cyber bullying. Many
young people who became victims
to cyber bullying had committed
suicide and this has spark concern
for parents, schools and
lawmakers. My focus question is
“Should social networking sites
and lawmakers do more to
combat cyber bullying?”
The key issues that I would be
looking at are:
• What is cyber bullying?
• Why does cyber bullying
occur?
• Is cyber bullying becoming
a serious issue worldwide?
• How has cyber bullying
impacted the victims?
• What is being done to
combat cyber bullying?
• Should more be done to
combat cyber bullying?
Whose responsibility is it?
CYBER BULLYING](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/cyberbullyingwriteup-130325013927-phpapp01/85/cyber-bullying-write-up-1-320.jpg?cb=1675792558)
![[2]
GLOBALPERSPECTIVE
Australia
Canada
The United States
India](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)