Megan McGee- Cyber Bullying

In this new age of technology, the world is connected to one another with just one click of the mouse. Communication is faster and easier than ever before. The internet has proven to have one of the biggest impacts on human interaction in history. Although there are many positive aspects that come with the internet, there are also many negative ones. With social media becoming increasingly popular with younger and younger generations, communication with peers over these mediums is becoming much like personal interaction in real life. With that comes cyber bullying.  People hiding behind the safety of their computer feeling freer to say whatever they like. States all over the country have been making anti-bullying laws to suppress the negative actions taken by this new trend.

On Monday night, a 12 year old girl named Rebecca Ann Sedwick went missing from her florida home. Rebecca had been the victim of cyber bullying for over a year prior. She switched schools to leave the bullying behind only to still continue to be bullied at her new school. She also shut down her facebook account in attempt to put an end to the harassment. This tactic also did not work. Peers were still harassing her with text messages saying, “why don’t you kill yourself already?” Rebecca’s body was found on Tuesday morning after she had jumped off an industrial building. The police are investigating the fifteen girls involved in the bullying. They could face felony charges for the death of Rebecca.

At such a young age, what you peers think of you seems to be important. Most at that age have not matured enough to feel comfortable in our own skin and realize that the only opinion that matters about yourself is yours. Cowards hide behind the security of their own computer. With social media and technology, real life human interaction is becoming nonexistent. It is disgusting that one could push another to end their life. Something needs to change. Schools and parents should be monitoring what their children are doing online. Maybe this would have saved Rebecca’s life.

http://www.ibtimes.com/rebecca-ann-sedwick-suicide-15-girls-under-investigation-cyber-bullying-after-12-year-old-florida