Preventing Cyberbullying

ELIJAH LUI

On the evening of September 22, 2010, Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi updated his Facebook status: “Jumping off the gw [George Washington] bridge sorry.” According to Lisa Foderaro’s report in The New York Times, a few hours later Clementi did just that. But what would cause a bright student and talented musician with a promising future to take his own life? A bully with a webcam.

Elijah begins his speech with a dramatic example that captures the audience’s attention.

According to a May 21, 2012, report on CNN, Clementi’s roommate was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 3 years of probation, 300 hours of community service, and $11,000 in restitution for using a Web cam to view and transmit images of Clementi in an intimate encounter with another young man. Tyler Clementi’s story is tragic, but it’s not an isolated event. On September 9, 2013, 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick jumped to her death after allegedly being tormented by two girls on Facebook. A few months earlier, Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old Canadian high school student, hanged herself after cell phone pictures of her being sexually assaulted were distributed by the alleged attackers. What is going on here? In a word—it’s cyberbullying.

Elijah introduces his topic with a rhetorical question.

My name is Elijah, and I’m here today to confront the growing problem of electronic harassment experienced by Tyler Clementi and so many others. I’ll start with a look at the various forms cyberbullying takes and describe the scope of the problem. But I’m not here just to talk about one more social ill; I want to show you how you and your loved ones can stay safe—both by scrupulously guarding your personal information and by actively thwarting cyberbullies. Finally, should you or someone you know become a victim, I want you to be able to respond constructively.

Elijah sets up the organizational pattern of the speech, indicating that he will describe a problem and offer solutions.

As you can imagine from the heartbreaking story I’ve shared about Tyler Clementi, cyberbullying poses serious mental health risks to the nation’s children, teens, and young adults. The Cyberbullying Research Center, a leading resource on the topic, defines cyberbullying as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Cyberbullying can take many forms, including posting or sending harassing messages via Web sites, blogs, or text messages; posting embarrassing or private photos of someone without their permission; recording or videotaping someone and sharing it without permission; and creating fake Web sites or social networking profiles in someone else’s name to humiliate them. Often these acts are done anonymously.

Recent research paints a chilling picture of the frequency and harm of electronic harassment. According to Hani Morgan, an education professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, the statistics vary widely, but a 2011 report by the National Crime Prevention Council found that 43 percent of teens had been the victims of cyberbullying in the last year. Although most of the research to date has focused on cyberbullying among middle school and high school students, a 2012 study published in the Journal of School Violence confirmed that the problem of electronic harassment continues into college. Psychologists Allison Schenk and William Fremouw found that nearly 9 percent of university students had experienced cyberbullying; that means that at least two or three people listening to this speech know what I’m describing because they’ve felt it. As we have seen with Tyler, Rebecca, Rehtaeh, and too many others, cyberbullying has tragically cut short promising lives. But consequences less dramatic than suicide take a serious toll on cyberbullying’s victims. The same study by Schenk and Fremouw reported more symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as difficulty concentrating, among bullied college students.

Elijah effectively puts his research to work throughout this section, making sure to give credit to his reputable sources.

As Professor Morgan explains, the anonymity of unsigned messages and fake user names marks cyberbullying as a dangerous evolution of a long-standing face-to-face bullying problem, but you can take steps to protect yourself. For one, you can be vigilant about safeguarding your personal information. Our school’s information technology office lists the following advice on its Web site. First, never, ever, leave your laptops unattended. Second, keep your account passwords and Social Security numbers completely private. Third, use the most secure privacy settings on your social networking sites. Finally, think carefully about the types of pictures of yourself and your friends that you post online, and restrict views of them to “friends only.” Each of these steps can minimize opportunities for bullies to harm or embarrass you in some way.

Elijah effectively transitions to offering solutions and practical steps avoid cyberbullying.

In addition to zealously guarding your personal information, you can help combat cyberbullying by being a voice against it whenever you see it happening. Several organizations have Web sites that provide information you can use to be part of the solution. The Facebook group Don’t Stand By, Stand Up! is a student-led organization formed soon after the suicide of Tyler Clementi. The group urges Internet users to take a stand against cyberbullying by recognizing that bullies—in all forms—rarely succeed in their harassment without the support and attention of bystanders. The National Crime Prevention Council Web site gives specific tips on how to thwart a bully’s attempts. The first is to refuse to pass bullying messages along to others—whether via text or photo messaging, social networking, or e-mail—and to let the original sender know that you find the message offensive or stupid. Despite your best efforts to keep your personal information private and speak out against cyberbullying, you may still become a victim.

This transition summarizes the previous point and previews the next one.

Online safety expert Parry Aftab’s Web site, Stopcyberbullying.org, advises victims to use the “Stop, Block, and Tell” method to respond to bullying behaviors directed against them. Though often taught to younger children, this response makes sense in any case of cyberbullying. After receiving a bullying message, you should first stop. In other words, do nothing. Take five minutes to cool down, take a walk, breathe deeply, or do whatever will help to calm down the understandable anger you are feeling. Then, block: prevent the cyberbully from having any future communication with you. This may mean anything from removing him or her from your social networking site’s “friends” list to having your cell phone service provider block the bully from being able to call or text you. The third step is to tell someone about the abuse without embarrassment or shame. For example, you might call campus security or confide in a counselor at the Health and Counseling Center—particularly if the abuse has been going on for a long time and you feel that your self-esteem or relationships have been affected. Similarly, parents of younger children should encourage their children to report any bullying to a trusted adult.

Today we’ve ventured into the very real—and very dangerous—world of cyberbullying. We’ve seen cyberbullying’s negative impact on people of all ages. We’ve also seen how you can counter this potentially deadly problem by being vigilant about protecting your personal information and speaking out against cyberbullying. And if you or someone you know experiences cyberbullying, you can react constructively with the Stop, Block, and Tell method.

Elijah signals the conclusion of his speech with a summary of his main points.

Cyberbullying isn’t just someone else’s problem. It’s very likely something you need to guard against now or in the future—as a student today or as a parent tomorrow. I urge each of you to make a personal commitment to do your part to combat the problem. Refuse to stay silent in the face of cyberbullying. Resolve that you will never send or pass along cyberbullying messages of any kind, no matter how harmless doing so might seem. This act alone can make a world of difference in the life of the intended victim. And wouldn’t you want someone to take this simple step for you?

Elijah issues a call to action.

We must never forget Tyler Clementi and the other young lives cut short by unnecessary bullying. Who knows? Your best friend, your younger brother, or your son could just have easily been on that bridge that fateful September evening.

By stressing the personal relevance of his topic to his audience, Elijah leaves his listeners with something to think about.