Regulation needed to combat cyberbullying

Children are growing up today in a world where the pen is mightier than the sword, but the keyboard trumps all. With few apparent and easily punishable consequences for students’ actions online, the web has become a breeding ground for bullying. Throw on top of that the option of anonymity found in many social networking sites and the cyberbullying epidemic explodes.

To combat the growing issue of cyberbullying, New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed legislature on Aug. 6 to expand the state’s anti-bullying laws to include harassment via email, text messages and instant messages.

Previously, the policies enforced at schools prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying covered only school property, school bus and school-sponsored events. These were the places where students interacted and most bullying took place. Now they have shifted online, so it only makes sense that the rules expand with changes in the social movement.

It is about time for state government to step in—after all, it is their duty to protect the citizens within their boundaries. Other states including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Washington have followed in New Jersey’s footsteps.

The increase in online harassment stems from advancements in technology and the age and immaturity of its users. Children are getting introduced to the computer and the Internet at younger and younger ages, before they are even mature enough to handle the powerful resource and the breadth and implications their words contain. Cyberbulling awareness programs have been implemented in some school districts, but the government and the schools lack the laws and rules to punish offenders.

The government is still in the process of drawing the line between where school ends and the online world begins. But in the end, students need to be regulated when social networking on the web. The world runs on rules and regulations for a reason: People will not act morally when they do not feel the consequences of their actions.

Passing the laws regarding cyberbullying may lead to more debates. For instance, will students be disciplined for other behavior off campus such as drug and alcohol use? Laws already exist dealing with teen drug and alcohol abuse. But there is nothing that clearly addresses the harms of Internet harassment, which can vary between starting petty tiffs between friends to causing a student to commit suicide. Local government needs to work with schools to develop regulation to fight, discourage and punish cyberbullying.

Sometimes, all students need is a concrete rule—one that teachers, parents and peers can point to as a reminder and a warning. Simply discouraging a student from partaking in an action never works. Rules must be enforced and consequences must be followed through to make students really think twice before hitting send.