KTMS Radio Commentary
There is a very serious threat to the well-being of our children that many parents know little or nothing about: cyber bullying. Its effects can be devastating.
We have all read news reports of young suicide victims, bullied into believing life was no longer worth living because of relentless cyber attacks.
One can only imagine the ripple effect this has on the victims, their family, and their community, as well as that of the perpetrators.
Most
young people who take part in cyber bullying do it as a joke, or
don’t pause to consider the impacts. Throughout human history,
young people have shown they can be mean to each other; but the
Internet has provided them with the tools to be truly cruel.
Many
parents are simply not up to speed when it comes to social network
sites or the online places their own children visit. Each day new
sites emerge.
Add
in the presence of text messages and video messages, and it all means
that parenting in the age of cyber crimes is more challenging than
ever.
