For the last week of class, the topic for group presentations were about
gender and the future. The group that presented Tuesday catered their
presentation towards gender and bullying in regards to technology.
Cyber bullying is becoming a significant issue in today's society due to
the advancement in technology and the lack of parental supervision. In
addition, there are many types of social media that allow for cyber bullying to
take place. Some examples include Facebook, twitter, My Space, and MSN. The
ways in which people can bully others online varies from person to person. On
Facebook, teenagers have the ability to post cruel and disheartening comments
on peoples’ pictures and videos. With that being said, cyber bullying is more
often associated with females than males. This is because there are large
gender differences in the way the Internet is used. From the class presentation, we learned that males identify themselves
as bullies more than females. They also display a positive attitude towards
aggression. In addition, they show bullying activity towards both males and
females in attempt to increase their social status. In regards to females as
bullies, they tend to be loud, rude, and domineering. Females, however, mostly
bully towards other females instead of both sexes like males. Females also use
the method of cyber-bullying as a way of displaying their dominance or power.
During their presentation, the group asked the class the following
question:
Do you think that bullying over social media will get better over time or is it going to get worse?
Do you think that bullying over social media will get better over time or is it going to get worse?
As a class, we collectively agreed that bullying over social media will
only get worse. Unfortunately, as we progress towards the future, children do
not understand how much of a negative impact bullying has on individuals
everywhere. In cases such as Amanda Todd, it’s unfortunate that adolescents
feel they must commit suicide to remove themselves from harsh bullying
situations.
With the social problem of bullying, there are many solutions that can
be provided. When discussing solutions, the main factor is about bringing
attention to the issue. Bullying is not something we can continue to ignore. We
need to continue events such as Sea of
Pink to support individuals who have been bullied in the past. This brings
attention to bullying as a significant social problem that needs to be
addressed as soon as possible. From the parental perspective, our class suggested that adults could
monitor Internet usage, watch for cues from their children, engage in open
conversations and encourage communication on a daily basis. In regards to
education, teachers can also provide solutions for the problem of bullying and
cyber bullying. Schools should monitor and lock certain websites from student
access. In addition, I think it’s important for schools to educate students on
cyber bullying and create a safe environment where students feel comfortable at
all times. In conclusion, we ALL need to get on the same page and help protect the
youth in contemporary society. Today’s children are the adults of the future
and we cannot continue to let them end their lives. Bullying is not acceptable
and needs to come to an end IMMEDIATELY. We need to hold adolescents
accountable for the serious actions they commit in regards to physically and
emotionally harming their peers.
