Lauren Sayah, Abby Wills, Sara Stahl

What is Cyber Bullying?  Is the use of electronic means by a minor to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or otherwise target another minor

Statistics!  35 % of the kids have been threatened online  Being ignored and disrespected is the most common form  75 % have visited a Web site bashing another student  21 % have received mean or threatening s  Most cyber-bullying occurs in chat rooms  Girls are more likely to be victims and perpetrators  58% admit that someone has said mean things to them online.

Statistics!  25 % have been bullied repeatedly via cell phones or Internet  ½ kids DON’T tell their parents  1 in 10 adolescents have had embarrassing pictures taken of them without permission  10 to 20 percent experience cyber bullying regularly

Cyber bullying Offending Bar Graph- February 2010

Cyber bullying Victimization Bar Graph- February 2010

Male vs. Female- February 2010

The Megan Meier Incident  Megan Meier was a thirteen year old girl who started a friendship over MySpace with a person she thought was a new boy in her town. The “friend” was a group of adults who humiliated her. When Megan found out who they really were she then committed suicide. Afterwards some very harsh laws were put in work.

Alexis Pilkington’s Story- Suicide  Alexis Pilkington killed herself on March due to taunts and put downs on a site called FormSpringMe.com. After this tragedy a bill is being considered making intimidate or harass a federal crime.

Phoebe Prince’s Story- The Girl Who Hanged Herself  Phoebe Prince, an Irish immigrant, hanged herself January 12 after being tormented for three months via text message and Facebook. She was harassed by older girls who were mad at her dating an older football player. Once she was attacked with a soft drink soda can by a girl. Her body was found by her younger sister in the stairwell leading to their apartment. Nine teenagers were accused and six of the nine were connected to the suicide. Two of them charged with statutory rape.

How Can Students Stop Cyber Bullying? 1. Make sure you send things to the right person 2. Ask, “Is it worth sending?” Sometimes false rumors or chain- s aren’t needed. 3. Don’t attack others online- if you can’t say it to their face, don’t say it at all. 4. Don’t forward other peoples texts without their permission 5. Ask, “Am I angry when I’m writing this?” 6. Check to make sure the message is private and you are willing to have other people read it in case the message is forwarded.