#38

Cyberbullying

Author: Lauri S. Friedman

Summary: Various viewpoints both agreeing and disagreeing on whether or not cyberbullying should be treated as a crime and possible ways to prevent it. 

Personal thoughts about the book: All the viewpoints about cyberbullying were insightful. Some I agreed with. Some were just downright rude. And others I agreed, but then again disagreed on. I do personally think that cyberbullying should be treated as a crime. It's one of the main causes of severe depression and committing suicide. The suicide of a girl named Megan Meier was discussed numerous times in the book. After receiving quite a few very cruel messages from a woman pretending to be a boy named Josh, Megan decided that suicide was the only way out. There was some controversy as to whether or not what that woman did to a 13-year-old girl was a true crime considering that Megan killed herself over it. While suicide itself isn't a crime, posing as somebody else online can be. It was also discussed whether parents should monitor their children's behavior online to prevent possible cyberbullying or to trust their child and give them a right to have some privacy.
I personally think that cyberbullying should be treated as a crime, especially if the victim receives threatening messages such as the bully wanting to beat up or kill them. 

Rating on a scale of 1 to 10: I would say an 8 because some of the viewpoints, can be quite long-winded! 

-Jessi :)