Massachusetts Teen’s Suicide Reopens Discussion on Cyberbullying Legislation
In yet another story highlighting the tragic consequences of cyberbullying, a 15-year-old Massachusetts girl hung herself after facing psychological abuse and harassment from bullies in school and online. According to ABC News, Phoebe Prince, an Irish immigrant and new arrival to the small Massachusettes town, committed suicide in part because she “had been teased incessantly, taunted by text messages and harassed on social networking sites like Facebook.” The news of Phoebe Prince’s suicide comes not long after a number of other tragic teen deaths, including the suicide of a 13-year-old Florida girl who had been victimized in school for “sexting.”
It is unclear at this point whether any formal charges will be sought against the individuals who bullied the girl, but the district attorney covering the case has said that there is an “open investigation” in place. For many child advocates, this latest incident has renewed interest in the development of cyberbullying legislation, something that was first considered in 2008 following the suicide of teenager Megan Meier. In an editorial for the Boston Herald, Margery Eagan echos the call for more substantial punishment for cyberbullies.
From the article:
When South Hadley authorities find the girls who drove Phoebe Prince to take her own life, they should prosecute them.
Stop pretending they’re just cruel and nasty girls being girls. They’re criminal torturers.
Once upon a time, as the bullied among us know, the torment ended at our front door. We were safe at home, enclosed by four walls, relieved, at least until the next morning at school.
But in wired-up 2010, there is no escape. The taunts come right through the bedroom walls. South Hadley High’s principal said Phoebe Prince was targeted via texts on her cell phone and taunts on her computer and Facebook and other social networking sites. Her tormentors had access 24 hours a day.
While the development of anti-cyberbullying legislation may help states prosecute cyberbullies more severely, truthfully, there is no guarantee that it will reduce the number of cyberbullying incidents. As we wrote last week, kids and teens spend nearly every waking hour using digital technologies. Spending free time online has become the de facto pastime of our nation’s youth. To this end, the most effective way to prevent cyberbullying is to have an active and ongoing dialogue with your children about their Internet use and to spend time monitoring their behavior on the web for any warning signs of possible abuse.
For more information on talking to your kids about their Internet behavior, along with other suggestions to help stop cyberbullying before it stars, check out our guide on how to recognize and prevent cyberbullying.
