Radio Commentary
A very serious threat to the well-being of children is one that many parents still 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 these tragedies have had on the victims, their family, and their
community, as well as the perpetrators.
Most young people who take part in cyber-bullying
do it as a joke, and 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.
