1. Why is Cyber Bullying on the Rise? By: Yolanda Epp

2. Alexis Pilkington, 17 Committed suicide March 21st after being taunted on social networking sites.

3. Morgan Meier, 13 Committed suicide October 17 th after being taunted on social networking sites by a former friend’s mother.

4. Phoebe Prince, 15 Committed suicide after being cyber bullied by girls who didn’t like that she was seeing a certain boy.

5. Committed suicide after being bullied and cyber bullied from fifth to seventh grade. Ryan Halligan, 14

6. So if people have seen the possible outcomes of cyber bullying, why is it so appealing to so many people? Why is it on the rise?

7. Reason # 1 The technology is so easily available!!

8. 76.2%percent of the population in North America have Internet access. 71 percent of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 own a cell phone.

9. Anyone can set up a MySpace or Facebook page!

10. Reason # 2 Bullies can remain completely anonymous.

11. Fake accounts on MySpace and Facebook are created – so you have no idea who is doing the bullying. 45.5 percent of victims cannot identify who is doing the cyber bullying. Being able to remain anonymous means the bully doesn’t have to feel guilty if the victim is visibly upset. Kowalski, Robin, Susan Limber. "Electronic Bullying Among Middle School Students". Journal of Adolescent Health 2007: S22-S30.

12. Reason # 3 There are tons of ways to participate.

13. Instant Messaging Set up fake accounts Exclude peers Print conversatio ns

14. Cell Phones taking unwanted pictures locker room sending threatening messages

15. Blogs Emails Chat Rooms Social Networking Sites

16. Reason # 4 Lack of Supervision

17. = Parents don’t realize cell phones need to be monitored the same way a child’s computer is monitored. Cell phones are the new PC.

18. Reason # 5 Victims are not likely to report the abuse.

19. Kids are afraid parents will take away their Internet privileges, so they don’t tell. Students aren’t supposed to be on cell phones during the school day. They don’t want to get in trouble. Students don’t feel like teachers will help.

20. Final Thoughts We have to intervene whether the bullying takes place at school or not!

21. Final Thoughts 20 years ago, 250 British inmates were surveyed…

22. Of those inmates, most had been bullies or victims of bullying in school…

23. When those who were bullied complained…

24. The inmates said that teachers paid very little or no attention to the complaints… Shariff, Shaheen, Dianne Hoff. "Cyber Bullying: Clarifying Legal Boundaries for School Supervision in Cyberspace". International Journal of Cyber Criminology January 2007: 76-118.