This week's topic, cyberbullying, is a topic I am passionate about because, as a millennial, my generation started with social media in our teen years. I remember creating my first AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) account in 6th grade. When I was in 8th grade, I created my first Myspace account. That is the first time I witnessed cyberbullying. Since then, I witness it on the majority social media platform. It is not only from people you are familiar with but the emergence of trolls, mostly on Tik Tok and Twitter. Users can hide behind a screen and remain anonymous, and the cyberbullies don't have any consequences for their actions. Cyberbullying can take many forms, affecting more than just teens, but it leaves a negative effect on those who are affected.
Before this course, I thought the number of students affected was much higher. I assumed that the majority of students had experienced cyberbullying. Different studies have varied from 5% to 74% of students who have experienced it, but the actual percentage is between those percentages(Hinduja & Patchin, 2015). Thankfully, it is not rising at an alarming rate as I had thought. We need to make sure it is not increasing, but educators are doing everything in their power to educate our students on the impacts cyberbullying has on others.
The case studies from this course were a little outdated. The cases of Ryan Patrick Halligan and Kylie Kenney were from the beginnings of social media. AIM was in its final days, and Myspace was about to start to flourish. Cell phones were around, but the smartphone era had not started. Cyberbullying now looks much different. Back in 2003, you could leave your computer at home and log off. It still happened and was not okay, but it was not continually vibrating in your pocket. Social media is in our pockets, and it is not easy to get away from anymore. I think back to how different the Clinton Impeachment would have affected Monica Lewinsky if it had happened in 2020 or even 2010. She had so much hate from comments online, but imagine #MonicaLewinsky, #SexualRelations, or #Cigar trending on Twitter. The hate she received would have been exponentially worse, and she might not have recovered from her depression.
This past week at school, I talked to my students about their digital footprint and social media. I teach 6th graders, and they are not yet old enough to create an account on Tik Tok or Instagram, but about half of my students have social media accounts. Educators don't need to scare our students and say that all social media is evil but teach them the right way to use it. We need to find the best way to teach students about cyberbullying. Right now, there is not any mandatory curriculum or time built-in for students to learn about cyberbullying and the impacts it has on others. This week has been a reminder to continue teaching my students about digital citizenship and the effect their words and actions on others.
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2015). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.