Technology has become our life. We can’t picture ourselves without it. Ironically, most of us don’t know what to do with it. Sure, we use it for contacting one another from afar, advertising our business, and other things made easier, but what are we really doing?
I will tell you what the majority of us - the kids - are doing. Facebook is the primary use of our time. Facebook, like other social networks, is a place where you can be open minded about yourself, but kids have brought havoc to Facebook. It is not like a war, but it is cyber-bullying, one of the most harmful obstacles our kids are facing nowadays.
One of the most practiced cyberbullying method is called a “burn page.” A “burn page” is a page where angry or bitter kids go, upload a picture, and post a caption about the person they hate or don’t like. Most captions are not pleasant to see. When it happened to me, I struggled to take down the offensive comment and felt helpless since Facebook was not taking care of it. I could link to one of these pages, but I won’t for the sake of those who are being targeted, like myself.
If interested in listening to some kid’s perspectives on cyber bullying, visit Netsmartz. The stories are acted scenarios of what could happen or what has happened to teens that have been cyberbullied. Netsmartz is an organization branch of The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. You can check some written stories from young people who have dealt with cyberbullying at About.com's Family Computing site. This website contains both the problem and some solutions to the problem.In apost called “Never give up,” Sid talks about being constantly bullied by a gang for two years, but after finding the courage to talk to a parent, it ends. Not only does this story provide a shocking point of view, it also gives Sid's advice: "Don't suffer in silence."
Cyberbullying is a hard thing to deal with, especially if you are constantly being targeted. Teens and kids that share their experience with the world are more than courageous; they are heroes. To those who are being targeted now, you are not alone. There are adults and peers that would gladly put a stop to cyberbullying. You can share your story. By sharing your story, you will be a click closer to stopping the growing phenomenon that has haunted many.
Photo credit: MoneyBlogNewz
