The document discusses cyber bullying, particularly its impact as depicted in a film being produced. It highlights three tragic case studies of individuals affected by cyber bullying, emphasizing the severe consequences including suicide. Finally, it notes the relevance of these issues to contemporary horror films that reflect societal fears surrounding online harassment.

1. CYBER BULLYING
BEN IRELAND

2. WHY CYBER BULLYING?
• Cyber bullying is simply the form of bullying that takes place
online. So why am I doing a post on it?
• As I’m sure your aware, our film tackles the difficulties
associated with Cyber Bullying and the grief that comes with it,
two key messages and values of our film. So for us as a
production company to understand what cyber bullying is like
we need to look at what it can lead to, the isolation it causes
and the depression attached.

3. AMANDA TODD – (1996 – 2012)
• This case study really stood out to me, possibly due to how recent it
is.
• Amanda Todd was bullied and blackmailed online after she went into
a video chat with online stranger who convinced her to reveal her
breasts. However he saved the picture and attempted to blackmail
her.
• The picture began to circulate on social media. She moved school but
the stalker went undercover to her new school and continued to stalk
her.
• In the end, she committed suicide filmed it for YouTube where the
video consisted of her using flash cards to talk to the camera, almost

4. TYLER CLEMENTI – (1991 – 2010)
• This too is a disturbing case about the distrust and disrespect
towards homosexual people.
• Following his graduation, Tyler Clementi admitted to being gay.
During September his roommate at University, used a webcam on his
computer to record Tyler kissing another man.
• Clementi learned through his roommates twitter feed that he became
a hot topic amongst social media.
• Later that month, on the 22nd of September, Clementi killed himself
by jumping off the George Washington bridge.

5. HOPE SITWELL – (1996 – 2009)
• In 2009, Hope Sitwell aged 13, hung herself after naked
pictures she had sent to her boyfriend was shared amongst six
different schools in Ruskin Florida.
• She never told her parents about the ‘Hope Hater Page’ that
was started on Myspace which added to the cyber-bullying.
• Reuters reported that Hope’s parents filed a lawsuit in April
2011 against Hillsborough County school officials for allegedly
failing to take appropriate action after learning the teen had
suicidal thoughts.

6. WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
• Horror films are constructed to play on the fears of society at
the time of filming. Cyber Bullying is now a fear in society as
parents fear about what their children do online.
• For example the film such as ‘Unfriended’ was a film that dealt
with the results of cyber-bullying and created a new breed of
horror.
• It is shocking to read articles like this, however it does mean
that our initial idea for our film is relevant as it plays on the
fears of society that are present today.