by Chris Rogers
Staff Reporter

Long gone are the traditional tactics of schoolyard bullies where boys and girls would jeer at one another within earshot of a teacher. Now teenage bullies are employing the Internet as a playground of their own where they can harass others with no rules attached, this phenomena is know as cyber-bulling.

Cyber-bullying occurs when a child, preteen, or teen is target by a peer using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones. When bullies find that they cannot engage in harassment at school due to the presence of teachers and administrators, they simply log on to any social networking site such as Facebook or Myspace and torment their targets there.

Bullies typically harass their victims out of revenge, jealousy, anger or sheer boredom. In most cases though, they are engaging the victim to try and get a reaction. “Most bullies continue with harassment if the victim gives a reaction. In the cases we have dealt with at Cape, we help the victim student devise strategies to diffuse the situation and give the bully a lack of incentive to continue,” stated guidance counselor Lori Brooks.

There are two types of cyber-bullying: direct attacks and cyber-bullying by proxy. Direct attacks
are where cruel statements are said directly to the victim. The usage of instant messaging, stealing passwords, blogs, web sites, sending pictures through e-mail and cell phones, internet polling, interactive gaming, and impersonation all falls under the umbrella of direct attacks.

Cyber-bullying by proxy is where the bully gets others to do his/ her work, such as having accomplices that help them to push the “warning” or “notify” buttons on the victims instant messaging account enough times for it to be terminated.

Cyber-bullying is much more than simple-name calling. These new age bullies are vicious, getting into the psyche of their victims, causing extreme low self-esteem, depression, and in some cases suicide.

Megan Meier was a 13 year old girl from Missouri that became a fatal victim of a cruel cyber-bullying hoax. Over Myspace, she was befriended by Josh Evans, a 16 year old boy who she belived was new in her hometown. In reality, Josh Evans did not exist but was created by a mother of one of Megan’s former friends. She allegedly created a fictitious profile to gain Megan’s trust and learn what she was saying about her daughter.

The one month friendship turned hostile when compliments turned to insults. According to ABC news, “Megan received a message from Josh on her Myspace on Oct. 15, 2006, that said, 'I don't know if I want to be friends with you any longer because I hear you're not nice to your friends.’” Soon afterwards, many rude bulletins were posted about her. Megan was devastated by the exchange and could not understand why her friendship had unraveled. Tina Meier discovered her daughter's body in a bedroom closet on Oct. 16, 2006. Megan had hanged herself and died a day later.

Legislation has been passed to prevent cyber-bulling and its devastating effects. Florida Legislature adopted an anti-bullying law on April 2008. The law is known as the "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act." It was named after Jeffrey Johnston, a 15-year-old boy who committed suicide after being the object of Internet bullying. This law prohibits any sort of harassment inflicted on any public K-12 student or employee. It also requires public schools to make policy regarding the protection of students and employees from the physical and psychological effects of bullying and harassment.

At Cape High, when a case of cyber-bullying is presented to administrators it is taken seriously. Assistant principal Jim Welton stated, “Normally we talk to the alleged victim and get their statement. Then we talk to the alleged bully and get their story. District school wide policy is a warning followed by a suspension or administrative review for any more incidents.”

Overall cyber-bullying is vicious, dangerous, and a serious offence. “ I don’t understand what would drive someone to try and make a person feel bad about themselves purposefully; it is just cruel,” said junior Laura Parker.