A
very serious threat to the well-being of children is one that many parents
still know too little 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 attacks over the Internet.
One
can only imagine the ripple effect these tragedies have had on the victims’
families, and their communities, and even on 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. New sites seem to emerge each day.
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.
It
might seem like a good idea to give a young child a cell phone with Internet
access, but parents should consider the trade-offs they are making when they do
so.
Yes,
children will be able to stay in touch; but the risk is real, especially with
young children whose judgment and decision-making skills are not yet fully
developed.
Our
office is working closely in partnership with District Attorney Joyce Dudley to
address and reduce incidents of cyber-bullying. Parents need to be active partners
in these efforts as well.
