Technology and Bullying

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Technology and Bullying

There is no doubt that technology has changed our society. Now things are faster, easier, and more efficient than ever before. With all these changes, bullying has been impacted in a positive and negative way. Although technology has given victims of bullying an outlet to complete education without going to school, technology has made it easier for bullying to happen on anonymous apps and social media sites.

Online education in the twenty-first century is very prevalent. Not only can you receive a college degree online, but now there is the opportunity for children kindergarten through twelfth grade, to stay at home and complete courses online. One parent thought this would be the best decision for her daughter, Kelsey Hooten, who was being bullied everyday in school by her classmates. Kelsey is now enrolled in “a charter school affiliated with the national education company K12” (Pant 8). Because of the technological advancements made with video chats, computers and education students everywhere are able to be continue schooling with online teachers. Kelsey was able to escape the public school at which she was being bullied and her mother said that “the change in her personality was almost immediate” (Pant 64). By giving kids the ability to escape from the torments of bullying, the victims’ world changes. The effects of bullying can sometimes be physical, but they are also psychological. Studies have shown that victims of bullying are more likely to become violent, depressed or have anxiety issues. In addition, there is the possibility of neurological scarring. This would result from the traumatic experiences of bullying, such as harassment, ostracization, or physical abuse. The scarred tissue wou...

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...fits, but there will always be flaws within the system in which society will need to fix to help improve the lives of its users.

Works Cited

Anthes, Emily. "Inside the Bullied Brain." Boston Globe. 28 Nov. 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

Banks, Sandy. "Internet Intensifies Bullying." Los Angeles Times. 22 Oct. 2013: A.2. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

Jayson, Sharon. "Technology Can Push Our Crazy Buttons, Rewire Brains." USA Today [New York] 26 Mar 2012, n. pag. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

Kang, Cecilia. "Apps Feed Teens' Yen for Online Anonymity." Washington Post. 17 Feb. 2014: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

Pant, Meagan. "More Students Switch to Online Schools to Escape Bullies." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 01 Dec. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

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