Cyber-bullying involves the use of digital technology to repeatedly torment, threaten, harass, humiliate or embarrass another person. It can have serious psychological and emotional impacts on victims and in some cases has led to suicide. While some states have laws against cyber-bullying, there is no overall federal law. Schools can educate students about cyber-bullying and enforce rules against harassment, while parents should talk to their children about signs of cyber-bullying and encourage them to tell an adult if it occurs.

1. Cyber-bullyingBy: Michael Sturgeon

2. What is Cyber-bullying?“A situation when a child, tween or teen is repeatedly 'tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted' by another child or teenager using text messaging, email, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology.”

3. Why is it important?Students can be very distracted from their studiesStudents may eventually develop psychological and/or emotional issues

4. What constitutes as cyber-bulling?The intentional use of information and communication technologies to support intentional, repeated, and hostile behavior directed at an individual or a group.

5. What actions are cyber-bullying?Sending harassing emails to their targetsUse Instant Message or Text Message to send messages to their targetsCyber-bullies can create a voting poll that allow students to vote for the “ugliest”, “fattest”, etc.

6. How is it impacting K-12 education?Victims of cyber-bullying have lower self-esteems, increased suicidal tendencies, and a variety of emotional responsesThere has even been a couple cases of suicide brought on by cyber-bullying.

7. Who is being victimized?74% of eight to eleven year olds reported that bullying and teasing occurred at their school.25% of girls and 11% of boys were cyber-bullied in a two-month period

8. What can you do?School administrators can access their situation and then make it clear the seriousness of cyber-bullying and consequences of violating school rules of harassment.Parents can educate their children about the signs of cyber-bullying and encourage them to tell an adult if they are being cyber-bullied.

9. What is the government doing?California has passed a law that gives the school administrator the authority to discipline students for bullying offline or online.

10. ConclusionCyber-bullying is a continuation of regular bullying but has adapted to the 21st century.Cyber-bullying is more hurtful to their victim because the bullies don’t have to be face-to-face to let the hurt outCyber-bullying laws have been made effective in certain states but there has been nothing in other states. The US government needs to implement a federal rule against cyber-bullying.

11. Sourceshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/sveinhal/2533808944/http://www.flickr.com/photos/scelera/2215069210/http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomaspetermueller/4402282914/http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/316540202/Beale, Andrew V.; Hall, Kimberly R. “Cyberbullying: What School Administrators (and Parents) Can Do.” The Clearing House v. 81 no1 (September/October 2007) p. 8-12.www.cyberbullying.org