Cyberbully Film Analysis

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Cyberbully is a drama television film that premiered on ABC Family in 2011. This film addresses the issue of cyberbullying, which Sticca, Ruggieri, Alsaker, and Perren (2013) define as the modern form of bullying that is through the use of electronic forms of communication. Sticca et al. (2013) added that cyberbullying is caused to harm or harass defenseless victims in an aggressive behavior that is intentionally hostile and repeated. Cyberbully is rated PG-13 and is targeted towards adolescents and parents. Through my analysis of Cyberbully, I concentrated on the social development of adolescents. I focused on phenomenon of cyberbullying among adolescents, the risk factors associated with cyberbullying victimization, and the conflicts adolescents and their parents face. Cyberbully’s main focus is to rise awareness of cyberbullying in hopes of more states placing anti-cyberbullying laws. This film sends a positive message to adolescents. It addresses how adolescents can stick up for themselves and their peers, seek professional help, and forgive those who have caused them hurt.
At a national and international level, cyberbullying is growing substantially due to the evolution of communication through technology. Menesini, E., Nocentini, A., & Calussi, P. (2011) state that at a less severe level of cyberbullying, adolescent victims are experiencing silent/prank calls and insults on instant messaging. However, at a severe level of cyberbullying, unpleasant photos or videos are being shared online through social media websites with the intent of harming and harassing the victim. Cyberbully provides an insight on these different levels of cyberbullying by sharing the story of a teenage girl named Taylor Hillridge. For Taylor’s birthda...

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...m my perspective, I would definitely recommend this film to others. I think in this day and age, bullying is a lot more discrete because of the use of technology. People have the ability to hide behind a screen and say harmful things to others without realizing the serious effects it can have among its victims. I think this film is perfect for adolescents who are consumed by technology such as with social media websites. Cyberbully can help adolescents be aware of how they conduct themselves on these social media websites, and hopefully encourage them to stick up for others who are victims of cyberbullying. This film is also great for parents because it allows them to see how technology can affect an adolescent’s life. Parents often make the mistake of not monitoring their children’s usage of technology, but hopefully through this film they’ll value its importance.

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