How much do your friends mean to you? Would you stick up for them against a cyber bully even if that meant you may get bullied too? Would you take that risk to help out a friend?
Cyber bullying is the use of technology to bully or harm another individual, usually by sending insulting, intimidating or threatening messages and images. In fact, one fourth of teenagers in 2014 in the United States admit to being a cyber bully victim.
Does Technology Fuel Cyber Bullying?
Technology advances every single day even though people may not realize it. Social media is becoming more important to some people than true friends are.
Cyber bullying is something only newer generations are dealing with. Yes, anybody can be cyber bullied, but it isn’t something that people grew up dealing with 15 years ago. According to counselor Greg Casel it makes disciplining and parenting more difficult, causing cyber bullying to be even more common.
“Sometimes social media is blamed for cyber bullying and other negative uses, but technology is neither good nor bad, how human beings choose to use it, dictates whether it is a positive or negative in our lives,” Casel said.
Technology is unsupervised so it impossible to know what is happening on websites.
“I use to have people message me on Facebook and text me crude comments making fun of me and threatening me,” senior Sydney McCubbin said. “I use to be afraid to look at my texts in fear that it was another person telling me to go kill myself. It really does affect people mentally, and it isn’t something that is worth a laugh. Cyber bullying needs to stop.”
LHS provides every student with laptops, giving them access to technology and social media 24/7. But, most students have the same access on their phones.
“The more access teenagers have to a wide variety of social media tools gives them all the more opportunity to misuse the technology,” Casel said.
The social slandering can be detrimental to the victims; students can develop a lack of self-confidence and self-worth.
“It makes you feel like you have lost a sense of privacy,” senior Anna Davis said. “The problem doesn’t stop when you are alone because we live in a world that technology keeps us constantly connected.”
Cyber Bullying at LHS
Cyber bullying is a problem in many high schools across the nation. There is a varying opinion among the students at LHS whether or not cyber bullying is an issue. A recent online poll was taken discover students’ opinions. According to the poll of 200 LHS students, 44% of students had been cyber bullied.
“I don’t think cyber bullying is good,” senior Tim Gibson said. “I think its something that has become more prevalent, because people can be more anonymous online and don’t have to worry about getting in trouble. I don’t really hear about it a lot at LHS, I think we have a pretty safe environment.”
“Cyber bullying affects people in many different ways,” sophomore Samantha Kottman said. “It is either very harmful, or whoever is being bullied will just shrug it off. Either way, I think cyber bullying is a big problem because of the advancement of technology.”
Why do people cyber bully others? The real reason is unknown. Some students think that the bully wants attention. Others feel that it is because they are angry at the victim or themselves.
“I think that people who cyber bully are just trying to cover up their own problems by making the other people feel worse or they just sincerely don’t like them,” freshman Cierra Goe said. “Either way, it doesn’t make it right.”
How Do I Prevent Cyber Bullying?
There are ways students can prevent cyber bullying from occurring. One way students prevent being cyber bullied is by not having social media accounts. One of the largest social media sites where it is easy to be bullied is Twitter.
“I think [cyber bullying] it’s a terrible thing that needs to stop,” junior Veronica Howland said. “It happens on Twitter everyday and when you try to defend and stop it, it only leads to more bullying and drama.”
Many students at LHS who don’t have a Twitter don’t come across the issue.
“If you are different in any sort of way from what society considers ‘normal’ then you are likely to be made fun of or bullied,” junior Liam Floyd said. “But, if you are being bullied online you have the luxury of the ability to block. Most websites and apps that allow communication also have a block feature. You just have to ignore the online jerks.”
How do I take action?
When students see cyber bullying, it can be difficult to decide how to act. Students may think, “Do I stand up for them?” or “eh, this is interesting.” Students may not want to get involved because they don’t want to become a victim themselves or maybe the bully is one of their friends.
In fact 95% of people who observe cyber bullying are uncomfortable with the situation and feel that it is wrong, but ignore the situation and let it continue. When students witness cyber bullying they should take action, in a sensitive and responsible way.
“The first thing they should do is not worsen the issue by retweeting or forwarding the message; don’t become a part of the problem or contribute to the problem,” Casel said. “A second thing they might consider is to individually approach the cyber bully (not through social media) and let them know that their message is not appreciated. And the third things is offer emotional support to the victim, and maybe let an adult, whether it’s a parent, or if school related a counselor or administrator.”
When someone is being bullied, get trustful adults to help him or her. If the bullying continues to occur, law enforcement can get involved.
“I’ve never experienced cyber bullying, but I know it’s a pretty big issue,” senior Hannah Wessell said. “I think if someone is being cyber bullied they need to tell an adult figure and get it figured out. It’s not a laughing matter.”

Although 95% of witnesses ignore the problem, there are some students who stand up for the victim.
“I was called names and they spammed my account with rude comments, and it hurt for a little bit,” freshman Michella Anaya said. “But, I had other friends who stood up for me and did nothing but build me up. So as long as you know your worth, no one else gets to tell you how awesome you are!”