Royalty takes on Bullies

Everyday we hear about A- listers and celebrities addressing various social issues and speaking on behalf of charities and organizations.  But just recently, royalty itself has taken notice of the current issue of cyber-bullying.  Princess Mary of Denmark discussed the matter, as she wrapped up Victorian tour alongside her husband, Prince Frederik.

ABC Melbourne reported that Princess Mary and Prince Frederik attended a luncheon for Princess’ charity The Alannah and Madeline Foundation in Australia on Sunday. The Princess, which is an international patron of the foundation, according to the ABC Melbourne article, focused on the issue of childhood bullying.

 Other high profilers, such as Prime Minister Julia Gillard were on the attendance list. Princess Mary told those invited that efforts to counter the problem needed to spread their reach.

“Schools are just the start. The programs need to go beyond the schoolyard and into the wider community to help disadvantaged children,” Princess Mary said during the event.

She then went on to stress the importance of reaching out to children, voicing that child welfare is a basic human right.

 “Not only in the real world, but also in cyberspace. This is one of the most important responsibilities that we in society can undertake,” she said.  “The importance of providing them with the basic human right of having a safe and happy childhood, and that cannot be underestimated.”

While the royalty lightly touches on the subject of cyber- bullying, I believe it is a giant leap for other countries.  

While America is captivated by celebrities and high- profile socialites, many countries respond best to its’ own royalty.  Although, Mary is Princess of Denmark, she is Australian- born, thus increasing her interest to Australian natives. In order to address the issue on a worldwide scale, we need to continue in the right direction and draw attention to cyber- bullying.  Next up on the list is Kate Middleton and Prince William!  In efforts to stop cyber- bullying and hatred in general, we need to get the world’s most famous couple on board!  It’s only a matter of time before the Prince and his bride also take on the bullying battle.  Hopefully, this event only further sparks the fight against bullying!

Don’t Be a Bully, Stop Them

No one likes bullies, so why be one? There’s a time for standing back and there’s a time for acting up and now is the time to do something. Together we can all help to get rid of cyber- bullying and cease bully suicides. The answer? Educate yourselves, be aware and take action. Be the help to the problem, not the cause.

The Cyber- Bullying Research Center reported that cyber- bullying has affected over half the teens of all races with girls as more likely to be targeted than boys. So where do we start? First, educate one another on the signs of cyber- bullying. Explain how to set up privacy settings on social networks like blocking non- friends from messaging you on sites, such as FaceBook.  A September 2009 AP-MTV survey published on Pure Sight, stated that 45% of young people report that they see people being mean to each other on social networking sites. Guide your children through the steps of identifying a cyber- bully and their attacks. For more information on identifying a cyber- bully, visit http://blog.stopsign.com/how-to-identify-and-prevent-cyberbullying/. Next, help them to understand the consequences behind cyber- bullying and the reasonings to refuse to participate.

Maintaining communication with your children and peers is vital in preventing cyber- bullying among teens. Victims need to feel heard, not ignored, so keep an open relationship with them. Stress communication about any issues that arise, to help them feel less embarrassed or pressured to tell someone if they are being victimized.

After securing those measures, address cyber- bullying in schools. Find out your school’s consequences on cyber- bullying and what steps need to be taken to prevent bullying. Schools across the country have programs for teens who have or are being bullied and need someone to talk to. Addressing cyber- bullying in schools will also help prevent teens to realize the zero tolerance of cyber- bullying in schools.

Finally, be prepared for anything. With all the right precautions and help, we can decrease bullying and help those victimized. Education is the solution. The more people that care, the more action taken and the more people realize cyber- bullying is not cool. So spread the word and be a friend, not a bully.

Deleting Cyber- Bullying

After recent news of more suicides, America is ready to take action against cyber- bullying!  Celebrities, senators, parents and teenagers across America are speaking out against this epidemic.  With more teens becoming victim, states and schools are gearing up to pass a new cyber- bullying law.

According to Hartford Courant,”Under the new law, students who use the Internet or electronic communication devices to bully other students can be subject to investigation, disciplinary proceedings and even arrest if school officials believe a law was broken.”

New York is just one of the states preparing to enact the new law, after Jamey Rodemeyer, a high school freshman committed suicide. Eyewitness News reported that Erie County legislators Ray Walter and Ed Rath addressed the bullying matter during a press conference, where they stated they would be co- sponsoring legislation in it’s fight to end cyber- bullying.

“Cyber-bullying is a serious problem facing our children that many of us did not have to deal with in our younger years, and it is government’s responsibility to protect the youth of our community from this threat,” said Walter. “As a father, I want my children to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment, free of harassment both in person and online. I urge my colleagues in the Erie County Legislature to join me in bringing an end to cyber-bullying so not one more child needlessly suffers… Jamey needed help, and because New York is lagging in its attention to cyber-bullying, he did not get the assistance he so desperately needed,” said Walter.

While the law in still in the works, millions have rallied behind the cause to deter cyber- bullying and create a safe environment for teens both at school and home. If the law passes, cyber- bullying against minors will become a criminal offense, and may result in criminal charges. The law is set to stand before the House of Representatives before it proceeds.

Hopefully America votes to delete cyber- bullying and punish those who are aiding in the cyber- bullying crisis. We need to act now before more precious lives are lost. One teen lost to cyber- bullying is one too many.

Not so Gaga over Bullying

Last week, I mentioned that while writing, I saw a report of a death of a young teen.  If you remember, it was a suicide directly resulting from bullying both at school and online.  The boy was often taunted and discriminated against because of his struggles with his sexuality.  Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy from Williamsville, NY, quickly made headlines across America, drawing attention from millions, even Lady Gaga.  The singer and activist quickly responded to Rodemeyer’s death last Sunday, who was a fan.

Right before he ended his life, the young boy tweeted to his favorite singer, Lady Gaga saying “@ladygaga bye mother monster, thank you for all you have done, paws up forever.”

During the period that Jamey was bullied, Lady Gaga became an escape from the harsh insults that surrounded him daily.  One song, ‘Born This Way,’ became his anthem that Jamey often relied on to get him through the hard times.  However, as the cyber-bullying increased, Jamey began to think his fight was lost.

Jamey Rodemeyer with Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' photo courtesy of Daily Mail

The night before he died, he posted a lyric from Lady Gaga’s song The Queen on his Facebook saying, “Don’t forget me, when I come crying to heaven’s door.”

When Lady Gaga heard the news, she sent out her prayers to the Rodemeyer family, as well as vowed to continue fighting bullying.

Gaga tweeted, “The past days I’ve spent reflecting, crying, and yelling. I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someones life,” and later tweeted, “Jamey Rodemeyer, 14 yrs old, took his life because of bullying. Bullying must become be illegal. It is a hate crime.“

Since then she has attended a fundraiser, hosted by President Obama last Sunday to speak on behalf of Jamey and the issue of bullying. According to Advocate.com Gaga met with the President before the fundraiser to discuss the matter.  During the Q & A portion of the night, Gaga also stood urging Obama and everyone else to continue strong in the fight against bullying, and even proposing a law against bullying.

 Before the night, Gaga tweeted, “I am meeting with our President. I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey”

Recently, Daily Mail reported that at the iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas, Gaga dedicated the song ‘Hair’ to the late Jamey Rodemeyer as a tribute to raise awareness of the issue.  “I just wanted to take a moment because we lost a little monster this week,” said Lady Gaga in Las Vegas, “Jamey, I know you’re looking down on us and you’re not a victim, you’re a lesson to all of us.‘‘

Cyber Turned Deadly

The saying goes “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” but how true is it?  I think it’s safe to say that everyone has had their feelings hurt or said something hurtful to another.  But what’s the cost of our hurtful words? Do we brush them off our shoulders every time or do some haunt us?

Cyber- bullying, a huge problem in today’s society is continuing to grow, despite raised awareness of the common form of bullying.

Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University.

Those words that people thought were harmless, are now one of the leading causes of suicide. As I sat here writing and reflecting on the severity of cyber- bullying, I was smacked right in the face of reality. As I glanced at the television, Anderson Cooper reported on a young boy that had just committed suicide after endless bullying. Really? When will it stop? The sad truth is that boy was not alone, every day people, often times young teens commit suicide as a desperate attempt to escape gruesome and overwhelming bullying.

According to statistics submitted by CDC, 10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide.

Former victim of bullying, singer Demi Lovato spoke out against cyber- bullying in a interview with Seventeen Magazine.

“I think that some people use bullying as a way to fit in, and I’ve noticed it’s not just the “cool” kids doing it anymore. Sitting behind a computer gives people a sense of anonymity, but everyone needs to realize that words—even the ones they write online—have a strong power to hurt people,” said Demi.

So the saying proves false, words do hurt.  There are too many stories of young teens and even older people who are willing to take their lives, just to escape the taunting.  Is someone’s life really worth the cost of cyber- bullying?  We might as well change the saying to “sticks and stones may break your bones but words stick with you forever.”

Bullying off the Playground

The age with bullies stealing money on the playground or tripping in the halls seems out-dated since cyber-bullying has caught special attention.

Cyber- bullying, according to Wikipedia.com is the use of technology, such as social networks, email, text messages or other internet site to harass or repeatedly inflict pain on an individual.

With people spending their time glued to computer screens and texting every minute, it’s no surprise bullying has bridged the gap and crossed over into the world of technology. As technology advances, so does the opportunities for bullies to harass their victim without even leaving their bedroom.

In recent statistics from the i-Safe Foundation, over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying.

Cyber- bullying is categorized into two forms, direct attacks and cyber- bullying by proxy. Direct attacks, like its name are attacks sent directing to the victim. This includes harsh emails, comments or text messages, impersonation, as well as sending embarrassing or private photos.

The Cyberbullying Research Center reports that over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying.

Impersonation is seen when the bully has gained access or hacked into the victim’s social network or emails. They can then steal private information or slander the individual over the web. Websites are created to broaden the humiliation of the victim and gain followers. This leads me to the next form, called cyber-bullying by proxy. In severe cases of cyber- bullying, many which result in suicide are due to bullies rallying up a gang of followers. Bullying by proxy, in other words, means getting someone else to do your dirty work. Bullies may have friends or even parents, help attack the victim, increasing their feeling of helplessness.

What makes the bully so powerful? Anonymity. Today’s technology not only gives bullies opportunities but also protects them through private settings. Comments can now be displayed with no form of identification of the author, allowing the bullies to hide behind computer screens. This complicates things because victims are unable to identify their attacks and inform someone.

Harford County Examiner found that only 1 in 10 teens tells a parent if they have been a cyber bully victim.

With that ratio, it’s no wonder cyber- bullying is growing daily with the help of one simple message.
So next time, you go to comment on someone’s Facebook or text them, think and realize the impact of your words. Are you a cyber- bully? Are you hiding behind a screen or remaining anonymous? Instead, be the answer to the problem and educate others. It’s not too late to change the statistics.

If you or someone you know is being bullied or cyber- bullied, please visit www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org