It is disheartening to think it takes the death of a teenager for legislation to be created. At the same time, I was very happy to read in Huffington Post Canada that the province of Nova Scotia is implementing cyberbullying legislation. Unfortunately, it is close to 3 weeks after a teenage girl committed suicide in Nova Scotia because of cyberbullying. The full article from April 12th about her experiences can be read here on SJS. Huffington Post Canada says:
Justice Minister Ross Landry outlined the provisions of the new Cyber-Safety Act, which includes a unique investigative unit dedicated to pursuing and penalizing so-called cyberbullies, while making parents liable for their child’s bullying, if necessary. “We will not allow cowards to make people’s lives miserable online,” Landry told a news conference at a high school in Halifax.
According to the article, a team of five investigators will be created and trained to look into cyberbullying complaints, with the goal of resolving the complaints informally.
Bob Purcell, executive director of public safety and security said if the bullying does not stop or cannot be resolved, a prevention order is an option for the investigators and this order will allow the investigators to seize tablets, computers and cell phones. Fines can be implemented up to $5,000.00, as well as prison time of up to six months, for one who does not comply with a protection order.
This is a great start to needed legislation which should be implemented Canada wide and world wide. It’s also a first step for needed change. The fast pace of society, easy access to the internet, and the rise of social media through Smart phones, android phones, tablets, Ipods, etc means yet another level of education, awareness and prevention are needed for the youth of today. This should begin at home with discussions between parents and youth. As using computers and smart boards within the classroom environment is becoming more commonplace this education could then be carried over into the classroom environment as part of anti-bullying programs, workshops, or as part of the curriculum.
The youth of today are exposed to modern technology from birth. I regularly witness 3, 4 and 5 year olds playing on Ipods and Smart phones. Older youth use social media instead of talking on the phone with friends. Photos are shared without thought and too much information is often put on Facebook and other social media. The youth of today need to learn that some things do not belong in the public domain. As we have all witnessed on social media, whether it is for a good cause with social justice and advocacy as motivation or tragedies that occur around the world, in minutes a phrase or photo is shared and before you know it, hundreds, thousands or millions have seen it.
In regards to a visit with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Rehtaeh Parsons mother stated on Facebook: “…the cruelty is out there…hiding behind the keyboard, the cell phone. We need a cultural shift in our attitude towards the treatment of other human beings.” Well said!
Written by Victoria Brewster, MSW
SJS Staff Writer in Canada
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Anonymous Statement:
English:
http://pastebin.com/nJY55iJP
French:
http://pastebin.com/HgZEwRzq
Of course cyberbullying is out of control. Kids cant drink, drive, or go on the internet responsibly without parental supervision. Nor should they. This is not a failure or technology, its not a failure in childrens behavior, its a failure of adults to adjust to this new technology and recognize how powerful it is. Particularly those uncomputer savvy adults who lack the imagination to see over the horizon at where the intersection of 24/7 internet and children is!. Or those who are making money of “counselling” those who are cyberbullied, or inventing “prevention” programs rather than telling parents the simple easy, cheap, healthy option!
Simple. Don’t give kids a smart phone. Sure let them on the internet at home, semi-supervised. But with a smart phone they turn into zombies, tweeting not speaking, dumbed down, inarticulate, unable to read faces, unused to reading faces, and as face reading the way we learn to empathisize these kids don’t learn empathy, they don’t read long books, they don’t exercise as much as before, they don’t write long sentences or long paragraphs.
Its a disaster of epic proportions. Destroying a generation. This is a case of parents imagination not catching up with the technology. A generation of parents who dont know or understand how powerful a minor with free 24/7 access to technology is!
JUST DOn’t GIVE YOUR KIDS A PHONE< until the slow moving adult population catches up and makes it illegal in schools and ill advised at home.