Cyber Bullying
The Internet has a lot to offer: immediate answers, endless research, and easy communication with people all over the world. These were the intentions of the people who invented this product. America focused on the invention of the Internet and all its glory, but forgot to think about the evil that could come of it. It is generally known that with any great invention there are usually some potential negatives that absolutely must be considered. Cyber bullying is the most important aspect of the Internet that teachers, lawmakers, school administration, parents, and rising adults need to pay more close attention to. With developments like AOL Instant messenger (1997), MySpace (2001), and Facebook (2004), teens everywhere flocked to the idea of having a more private means of communication away from the school grounds and teachers. Above it all, students loved the idea of “not getting caught,” the ability to stay anonymous. (BizTech) For bullies, it was a way to bring that hurt and pain virtually anywhere the victim has access to media (cell phones, computers). Out of 2000 randomly selected middle-schoolers, 20% said they had at one point seriously thought about committing suicide and 19% had actually attempted it. (Cyber bullying Research Center) I have personally been Cyber Bullied. Last year, I was bullied constantly by classmates. It was hard. I couldn't concentrate on my schoolwork, my dancing, my music lessons. Life for me was spiraling in the wrong direction. Several times in that year I was rushed to Scottish Right(Children's hospital) for multiple suicide attempts. Some of those times, I had almost succeeded.
Before summer started this year. I overdosed. By the time i got to the hospital, i was almost gone. When they finally got all the toxins out of my system and had put me on an IV, the doctor told me, "Gabriella, you're very lucky to be with us today. One more pill and you would've died. Thank God you're alive." At that moment, I realized, Do I really want to die? Do people's opinions really make a difference to where I go in life? Should it matter? And then i thought, No, it shouldn't. Since this summer, i have been a lot better. I've been taking counseling and i was in a long-term hospitalization for 3 months to help with my feelings. How many more children will die before the United States realizes that there is so much more they can do to put a damper on this online hate cycle?
Before summer started this year. I overdosed. By the time i got to the hospital, i was almost gone. When they finally got all the toxins out of my system and had put me on an IV, the doctor told me, "Gabriella, you're very lucky to be with us today. One more pill and you would've died. Thank God you're alive." At that moment, I realized, Do I really want to die? Do people's opinions really make a difference to where I go in life? Should it matter? And then i thought, No, it shouldn't. Since this summer, i have been a lot better. I've been taking counseling and i was in a long-term hospitalization for 3 months to help with my feelings. How many more children will die before the United States realizes that there is so much more they can do to put a damper on this online hate cycle?
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