Exceptional Cyber bullying and teens Cyber bullying by Titanx9

Bullying behavior is not new; however, many parents are wringing their hands and asking what is happening with today's teenagers. Why is there such a rise in bullying? When did these problems become so gigantic and what, if anything, can be done about them? There are some who would argue that the years between 1925 - 1975 were probably the best ever for American teens for myriad reasons.Namely, teenagers didn't have cell phones; they didn't have access to 150 channels on cable television, and they didn't have play stations.  It seems the common denominator that made that period for some exemplary is communication. Teens on average were outside engaging with other teens and were communicating face-to-face.  That era is important if one is to trace the genesis of today's rebellious teens. Historically, the term teenager was coined in the 1950s when there was an explosion of teen; moreover, they had money because of the booming economy. Many teens found jobs and worked after  World War II,  thereby gaining economic freedom. Their buying power was noted by entrepreneurs, and they became a commercial commodity. The 1950s ushered in totally new mindsets and technologies.  This era saw the rise of the television,  AM radio,  and rock and roll. These three creations were the bedrock of change for teens.  For the first time, teens could  create their own trends, which often were in opposition to their parents. The media joined in the fray by calling those teens, who wore their hair in the non-traditional fashion or dressed differently, delinquents. Bullying - 1950s In the 1950s, bullying was typically relegated to playgrounds and parks and as this citation notes, it was often considered a rite of passage.  Eddie Haskell of "Leave it to Beaver" was considered a tormenting bully during this era as well as those students who stole classmates' lunches or took their lunch money. The victims knew their tormentors  99 percent of the time; they didn't have many places to hide.  Bullying in the 1950s can be traced to the highest level of government in the United States during the McCarthyism era. Therefore, bullying is not a new phenomenon, but there isn't a single documented case of a teen's  deaths during the 50s that is traceable to bullying. Cyber-bullying The advent of the Internet brought with it cyber-bullying, which changed the dynamics of bullying among teens.  In "Bullying and Cyberbullying" Strategic Communication,  Richard Donegan of  Elon University states, "While bullying and cyber bullying are often similar in terms of form and technique they also have many differences. Unlike traditional bullying, cyber bullying allows the offender to mask his or her identity behind a computer. This anonymity makes it easier for the offender to strike blows against a victim without having to see the victim’s physical response. The distancing effect that technological devices have on today’s youth often leads them to say and do crueler things compared to what is typical in a traditional face-to-face bullying situation."   The "Internet Safety 101" defines cyber bullying as willful and repeated harm (i.e., harassing, humiliating, or threatening text or images) inflicted through the Internet, interactive technologies, or mobile phones."  It further states that 43 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 report that they have experienced some sort of cyber bullying in the past year."   There have been numerous accounts of teen suicides related to cyberbullying. Victims were taunted and bullied relentlessly and were unable to cope with it. The sad reality of such occurrences is that parents of these victims have had little, if any, recourse to vindicate the deaths of their children.   These are little-known facts parents should know to help their teens cope with this growing epidemic: Girls are more apt to be cyber bullies, because it's non-physical and the fact that it's online communication. Girls are also likely to focus on social exclusion, or the mean girl tactics. Additionally, 23% of middle-schoolers surveyed had been bullied by e-mail 35% in chat rooms 41% by text messages on their cell phones Fully 41% did not know the identity of the perpetrators. Steps parents may take   Parents, all is not lost, the Sur Institute offers parents a plethora of information on how to handle many of the social problems most teens confront today, such as Internet addiction, suicide and violence. This easy-to-read, comprehensive site offers many helpful online resources that will help you and your teens cope with this rising phenomenon. The world today is decidedly different from the 50s and, one could arguably conclude that this is the most dangerous era ever.   Recognized Author Notes After reading an article about the rise of cyber bullying among teens, I decided to do some researcha nd write this article. There maybe parents, grandparents or guardians who may benefit from this information and the additional resources provided. I had some difficulty formatting this article, which has not happened before.

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