Social Media and Cyberbullying

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Facebook and other social media platforms have brought communication across the world to a whole new level. The rise of social media has created a place for children to communicate with others in both a positive and negative manner. Although it has made a positive impact on American youth, it has also contributed and exacerbated bullying in our schools. This new form of bullying, often referred to as cyberbullying, has created an around-the-clock atmosphere where bullying can occur even when school is not in session. Many professionals have sought to address the negative aspects of social media and have worked to develop a solution to bring cyberbullying to an end.

Besides cyberbullying, there are many other negative outcomes for American youth in the use of social media websites like Facebook. For example, many teens are using shorthand and abbreviations when writing or communicating online. Additionally, teens lose themselves in social media, ignore their surroundings and even become addicted to social media. Consequences of this include a rise in obesity, devaluation in family, lack of exercise and decrease in focus on school and homework. Adolescents that use social media more often than others are more prone to “narcissistic tendencies,” “anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders” (Protalinski, 2011). American youth that share more online also display manic, aggressive and antisocial behaviors.

Cyberbullying has risen since the inception of social media sites and the rise of the internet. While the statistics regarding cyberbullying vary widely, anywhere from ten to forty percent or more of adolescents have reportedly been bullied online. The percentage of those on social media, like Facebook, has an even gre...

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...A. (2007, June 27). Cyberbullying and online teens. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP Cyberbullying Memo.pdf.pdf

Limber, S. P., Kowalski, R. M., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber bullying: A prevention curriculum for grades 6 - 12. (pp. 1-146). Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Marqui Solutions Inc. (2010, November 4). Facebook's new app protects youth from cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.marqui.com/blog/facebooks-new-app-protects-youth-from-cyberbullying.aspx

Palfrey, J. (2009, April 1). Palfrey: Searching for solutions to cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2009/04/01_cyberbullying.html

Protalinski, E. (2011, August 9). Facebook overuse can lead to psychological disorders in youth. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-overuse-can-lead-to-psychological-disorders-in-youth/2389

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