Cyber Bullying: Tribute to Amanda Todd

Her Name: Amanda Todd

Status: Dead

A young, beautiful girl pushed so far to the edge by cyber bullies that she attempts to commit suicide twice. Her anxiety so bad, she no longer wanted to go to school. But what’s worse, her third attempt was successful, she hung herself... she was 15.

Today a focus on cyber bullying:

Cyber bullying is by far the worst element of social media, while 'traditional' bullying is also cruel and devastating, the Internet has allowed for anonymity. It also provides these bullies with courage, as they are not face-to-face. These bullies attack their victims through social media outlets without having to confront them, and it gives them the opportunity to sit and consider what they are going to say. It is relentless! 

I was lucky, I can confidently say I was never a bully at school nor was I the victim of it. Although I will admit, when I witnessed someone being bullied I would never speak up, does that make me a bad person? It worries me that I will bring children into an even further technologically advanced world and that they could potentially be subjected to this hate crime. Children are now being punished in court (Mail Online, 2012), but the reality is, does anybody want to see these children be placed in jail or is the death of another human being enough to teach a lesson? Where do the courts draw the line? As a mother, would you want the children jailed? (Rivnerivne, 2011)

Rheingold believes Technology is allowing us to take a communal approach to solving society's problems. Yet in this case technology is creating the problem, and allowing 'hate' groups to amalgamate. Even with people like Amanda Todd speaking out, it seems people only have more hurtful things to say. Comments from the video above included "Anon153: Wish she died the first time round", "Soulbeat19: bet she didn’t show her face cause she’s an ugly whore. WHORE", another hater posted a picture of a bottle of bleach and the caption “it’s to die for”, referencing an earlier suicide attempt (Ryall, 2012). So while Rheingold may believe that virtual communities are benefitting society, it seems that even those attempting to stand up for their victims are receiving hateful comments from anonymous Internet users. 

The future for cyber bullying seems never ending! Until governments make clear laws, and people are held accountable for their actions, teenagers and adults a like will continue to torment. Until anonymity is taken away and the vulnerable become strong, cyberbullying will continue. But while there are weak people, there are bullies to torment them; and while there is technology, there are sites to facilitate the harassment.

May I just say, lets hope they have made a law by the time my children enter school, my heart goes out to the parents who have suffered and are left feeling hopeless, just as Amanda Todd's are.

References:

Chai Videos (2012) Amanda Todd's Story: Struggling, Bullying, Suicide, Self Harm. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej7afkypUsc [Accessed: 11 February 2013].

Mail Online (2012) Victory over cyber bullies: Legal first as High Court orders Facebook to reveal trolls who tormented mother for defending X Factor star. [online] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156365/Nicola-Brookes-victim-internet-trolls-wins-High-Court-backing-reveal-identities-targeted-her.html#axzz2KeX0Zg2M [Accessed: 12 Feb 2013].

Rivnerivne (2011) kayla narey apologized for what she did to phoebe prince. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEs7s8T1pgU [Accessed: 11 february 2013].

Ryall, J. (2012) Online bully victim Amanda Todd still tormented in death. News.com.au, [online] October 15. Available at: http://www.news.com.au/national/online-bully-victim-amanda-todd-still-tormented-in-death/story-fndo4eg9-1226496347889 [Accessed: 11 February 2013].