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Title of Article: “The Rise of Cyber Bullying” (May 2008 Issue)
Done By: Geraldine Tay #8 :D
Title of Reflection: Cyber Cowards

This article talks about the rising number of cyber bullying cases and that the bullying is usually targeted at children, although there are cases where adults are being bullied online as well. Technology has redefined our way of life. One of the most essential forms of technology would be the internet and because of its importance, more people are finding ways to gain access to it. In almost every home in Singapore, you will be able to find a computer with internet access, don’t you agree?

The article also states that internet usage by children has increased enormously and because of that, cyber bullying is also on the rise. There are many reasons for cyber bullying, but it is mainly because aspects of online communication, like anonymity, encourage people to act aggressively and prompt them to do things that they normally would not do in real life. Also, cyber bullying is different from other forms of bullying because it can happen at any time of the day or night and that the messages, pictures or videos that are spread can be circulated around very quickly. These messages, pictures or videos leaves no scars and is less evident to adults but can lead to severe consequences.

Bullying can result in long-term psychological harm such as low self-esteem, depression, anger, poor academic performance, and even suicide. To prevent more children from becoming victims of cyber bullying, the article has stated a few ways that parents can identify if their children are victims and help them.

In my opinion, cyber bullying is a cowardly act. Firstly, if one is unhappy with the people around him or her, voicing it out would be better than to spread false information about them online. What good will come out of spreading rumours? Yes, even if the people are eventually affected psychologically, it does not solve the problem. Instead, one should get to the root of the problem and see if there is any way both parties can compromise so as to ensure that the problem will not arise again in the long run.

Secondly, we should not make use of the internet to harm others because I believe the internet was created to make our lives easier. Through the internet, we can link ourselves with people from all over the world. Information about almost everything can be found on the internet and is just a click away. Since the internet is such a useful tool, why should we use it for all the wrong things? Also, the bullies are actually committing crimes because according to the law in some countries, like Canada, some forms of online bullying are actually criminal acts and is punishable by law.

Some bullies may think that it is not possible for the authorities to track them down because the anonymity of the internet. However, that is a misconception. Everytime one accesses the internet, there will be a record of the address and the authorities would be able to trace the user. In addition, many would pit ethics against rights. They believe that there should be freedom of speech and intellectual property anytime, anywhere. I personally feel that these people are mean. Yes, there may be freedom, but that does not mean that one can use that freedom to hurt others. We are all humans, so why should we bring harm to one another instead of spreading joy and laughter? Perhaps if they stopped to think of how silly their actions are and how many people may be affected by those actions, they would stop the online bullying, making the internet a better place for everyone.

To help these bullies, we have to first find out the reasons why they turn to bullying. From my point of view, I think that most bullies come from broken families or have problems and that they do not know where or how they can vent their frustrations. Also, they do not want people to think of them as “weaklings” because of their family background and the problems they are facing. Thus, they put on a brave front and decide that the only way to prove that they are ‘tough’ would be to bully others.

I feel that if we want to help them, we would have to counsel them. We have to let them know that bullying others will not solve the problem. Instead, it creates a vicious cycle where the people who are being bullied will become bullies themselves. Allowing them to know that there are people who care and that they can approach them when they encounter problems may help them to stop their bullying habits.

“To err is human – Matthew Prior”. I agree with this quote completely. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, to get along well with one another, we have to practice tolerance. “What is tolerance? -- it is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly -- that is the first law of nature – Voltaire”. If we can try to be more patient and set aside our differences to live together harmoniously, I believe that not only the internet, and the world, would be a much better place for everyone.