Problem Solution Essay on Cyber Bullying

Introduction

Cyberbullying refers to the use of technology to threaten, harass, mock, or negatively target another person. Cyberbullying became a reality in the contemporary world because of the advances in technology that has driven the adoption pervasive use of computers and the networked device. The penetration and unprecedented Smartphone uptakes as well as the uptick in the number of social networking sites subscribers have created a platform where people can threaten, harass or malign others without being known or openly. Cyberbullying is not only confined to teenagers but people of all ages, races, religion, ethnic background depute being rampant among teenagers. By examining the trends in cyberbullying, the researcher proposes that tough internet or cyber laws would the most effective strategy to stop cyberbullying

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Causes of Cyberbullying and Statics

Even though many countries still don't have specific laws that apply to cyberbully, it's a growing problem that has gained researchers' attention (Parris, Varjas & Meyers, 2014). We now have access to ample data on the true dangers of cyberbullying, and we can use that data to prevent kids from being targeted. Cyberbullying is prevalent among teenagers with 1 in every 3 students indicating that they had been victims of bullying in an academic year. Over 15% of the students have admitted to having been bullied in their lifetime. On the other hand, over 61% of the obese and overweight students have been victims of bullies online (Broll, 2014).

Over 80% of the K-12 kids have had a chance to witness online bullying with the highest percentage of cyber bullies being men and the highest percentage of victims being females. It is also important to note the one can be cyberbullied for a number of reasons and the most common reason is that of one social group in schools (gang members). There are also others who are bullied because of their weight or health problems while many others have been bullied online because of their race, religion, political stand or their position on various social issues.

Impact of Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying has been associated with several problems among the victims. The most common effect of cyberbullying among teenagers is self-harmed. The tendency to self-harm is mainly due to the strong emotion or intense presses that the bullied individual experiences. Whenever an individual is bullied online and they do not have a way to express them, the self-harm, or self-mutilate to cope with the pain or rejection, online mockery, insults and public betrayal (Barlett, Chamberlin & Witkower, 2016). Over the last five year, the number of cyberbullying-related suicides has increased and the most worrying part is that the suicidal tendencies were either writes on verbally expressed by the victim (Seo & Ciani, 2014). the bullied student stream their suicide live for all to see while some other leave notes explaining why they have to take their lives.

Proposed Solution: Global Anti-Cyber Bullying Law

The International Law Commission (ILC) should draft a statute that would govern the ICC in related to cyberbullying or cyber terrorism. With the internet becoming a global phenomenon, there should be a universal law that targets the cyber bullies that would also deter potential bullies from the heinous act. The law should be enforced worldwide irrespective of the jurisdiction of the bully and the bullied. Anybody who is reported of cyberbullying should be found and arraigned in the global court those courts across all jurisdictions (Bullock, Wong-Lo & Gable, 2011). After investing the IP address and the name of the person to whom the IP address can be traced, the suspected individual should be cross-examined to determine their tendencies of the aim of bullying innocent people. If the suspect is found to be culpable of cyberbullying they should be sentenced to the global average term for cyberbullying in their country of origin. The rationale for having a global cyberbullying law is that most people hide behind the computers and send mean text or pictures with the aim of maligning the image of the target. Anybody found guilty of circulating hurtful pictures and videos should be arrested and charged with cyberbullying because people feel that they can be mean to others thinking that they cannot be reached because an individual lives in a foreign country or a different jurisdiction.

Conclusion

A global law or universal laws that encompass all jurisdictions and supreme to all jurisdictional laws should be passed by the international governing bodies. An international court such as the international criminal court that tries such case should be set the intergovernmental organization such as the ICC in the Hague can be the only court where perpetrators of cyberbullying are tried and if found guilty should be sentenced to serve their terms in the ICC's detention centre, located within a Dutch prison in Scheveningen. The goal of having a universal law against cyberbullying with strict laws enforcement framework is to ensure that anonymous cyberbullies do not go scot-free because the impact of cyberbullying on the victims is irreparable. Most bullied students experience depression, anxiety, and constant bullying may also exacerbate their preexisting mental health problems, negatively impact their work or academic performance as well as affect their overall quality of life.

References

Barlett, C., Chamberlin, K., & Witkower, Z. (2016). Predicting cyberbullying perpetration in emerging adults: A theoretical test of the Barlett Gentile Cyberbullying Model. Aggressive Behavior, 43(2), 147-154. doi: 10.1002/ab.21670

Broll, R. (2014). Collaborative responses to cyberbullying: preventing and responding to cyberbullying through nodes and clusters. Policing And Society, 26(7), 735-752. doi: 10.1080/10439463.2014.989154

Bullock, L., Wong-Lo, M., & Gable, R. (2011). Cyberbullying: What Is It and How Can We Combat It?. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education For Children And Youth, 55(2), 63-63. doi: 10.1080/1045988x.2011.539424

Henson, B. (2012). Bullying beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. Security Journal, 25(1), 88-89. doi: 10.1057/sj.2011.25

Parris, L., Varjas, K., & Meyers, J. (2014). ''The Internet is a Mask'': High School Students' Suggestions for Preventing Cyberbullying. Western Journal Of Emergency Medicine, 15(5), 587-592. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2014.4.20725

Seo, K., & Ciani, J. (2014). Fostering a Safe Online Culture with Cyberbullying Awareness and Prevention. International Journal Of Information Communication Technologies And Human Development, 6(2), 56-66. doi: 10.4018/ijicthd.2014040105