Researcher Published by CQ Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. CQ www.cqresearcher.com Cyberbullying Are new laws needed to curb online aggression? hild advocates say a growing epidemic of “cyber- bullying” — the use of computers, cell phones, social-networking sites and other technology to threaten or humiliate others — is putting young Cpeople at risk, sometimes with deadly consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled “electronic aggres- sion” an “emerging public-health problem.” Court precedents on school discipline and students’ First Amendment rights provide limited guidance to educators grappling with the emerging world of cyber communication, especially transmissions originating off Tina Meier, of suburban St. Louis, Mo., holds pictures of her daughter Megan, 13, who committed suicide last year after receiving cruel messages on the school grounds. Nonetheless, many states and school districts are social-networking site MySpace. “Josh,” the 16- year-old boy she had been communicating taking strong steps aimed at curbing cyber abuse. In Congress, with, turned out to be hoax. bills to provide new funding for online-safety programs have been I introduced, but conflicts have arisen over how federal money for N THIS REPORT S such efforts should be spent. THE ISSUES ......................387 I BACKGROUND ..................394 D CHRONOLOGY ..................395 E CURRENT SITUATION ..........399 CQ Researcher • May 2, 2008 • www.cqresearcher.com AT ISSUE ..........................401 Volume 18, Number 17 • Pages 385-408 OUTLOOK ........................403 RECIPIENT OF SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE N AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARD BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................406 THE NEXT STEP ................407 CYBERBULLYING CQ Researcher May 2, 2008 THE ISSUES OUTLOOK Volume 18, Number 17 MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas J. Colin • Are new laws needed Guidance Needed [email protected] 387 403 As cyberbullying spreads, to curb cyberbullying? ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR: Kathy Koch • Do cyberbully laws vio- schools, police and networking [email protected] late constitutional rights? sites will need guidance from ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Kenneth Jost • Should parents be held courts and policy-makers. liable for cyberbullying? STAFF WRITERS: Thomas J. Billitteri, SIDEBARS AND GRAPHICS Marcia Clemmitt, Peter Katel BACKGROUND CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rachel S. Cox, Sarah Glazer, Alan Greenblatt, Social Networking Facilitates Students’ Rights 388 Barbara Mantel, Patrick Marshall, 394 Cyberbullying Tom Price, Jennifer Weeks The Supreme Court’s 1969 Nearly 40 percent of teens Tinker decision defended who engage in online social DESIGN/PRODUCTION EDITOR: Olu B. Davis students’ free speech rights networking have been cyber- ASSISTANT EDITOR: Darrell Dela Rosa and schools’ right to disci- bullied. pline disruptive speech. EDITORIAL INTERNS: Joseph Rendeiro, Older Girls Typically Kristina Ryan Growing Phenomenon 389 Create Profiles Online 394 Teachers report cyberbully- Disparities are insignificant across economic and racial ing in the second grade. lines. A Division of Impact of Technology Chronology Congressional Quarterly Inc. 396 The rapid expansion in 395 Key events since 1969. communication devices has SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: fueled cyberbullying. 396 Suicide Uncovers Adult John A. Jenkins Role in Internet Shaming DIRECTOR, REFERENCE PUBLISHING: Effect on Students Controversial practices include Alix Buffon Vance 397 Cyberbullying makes stu- attacks on sex offenders. dents feel emotions ranging CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY INC. Abusive Online Gossip from helpless to unsafe. 400 Thrives at Colleges CHAIRMAN: Paul C. Tash Juicycampus.com allows VICE CHAIRMAN: Andrew P. Corty Potential Solutions anonymous postings. 398 Approaches include self- PRESIDENT/EDITOR IN CHIEF: Robert W. Merry policing by young people At Issue Copyright © 2008 CQ Press, a division of Congres- and anti-bullying programs. 401 Should school officials be sional Quarterly Inc. (CQ). CQ reserves all copyright able to regulate off-campus and other rights herein, unless previously specified cyberbullying? in writing. No part of this publication may be re- CURRENT SITUATION produced electronically or otherwise, without prior written permission. Unauthorized reproduction or Action in Congress FOR FURTHER RESEARCH transmission of CQ copyrighted material is a violation 399 Legislation to improve online of federal law carrying civil fines of up to $100,000. safety is under consideration. For More Information 405 Organizations to contact. CQ Researcher (ISSN 1056-2036) is printed on acid- free paper. Published weekly, except; (March wk. 4) 402 Social-Networking Sites Bibliography (May wk. 3) (July wk. 1) (July wk. 2) (Aug. wk. 2) MySpace and other sites are 406 Selected sources used. (Aug. wk. 3) (Nov. wk. 4) and (Dec. wk. 4), by CQ getting renewed scrutiny. Press, a division of Congressional Quarterly Inc. An- The Next Step nual full-service subscriptions start at $803. For pric- Action in States 407 Additional articles. ing, call 1-800-834-9020, ext. 1906. To purchase a 402 Cyberbullying has been CQ Researcher report in print or electronic format added to several anti- Citing CQ Researcher (PDF), visit www.cqpress.com or call 866-427-7737. bullying laws. 407 Sample bibliography formats. Single reports start at $15. Bulk purchase discounts and electronic-rights licensing are also available. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and ad- ditional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address Cover: AP Photo/Tom Gannam changes to CQ Researcher, 2300 N St., N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037. 386 CQ Researcher Cyberbullying BY THOMAS J. BILLITTERI abuse define it in different ways and many incidents are THE ISSUES difficult to tally accurately. he episodes are hurt- Studies leave little doubt, how- ful, ugly — and some- ever, that cyberbullying is T times deadly. In Lake- growing, as the following land, Fla., a group of small sampling of recent re- teenagers records the beat- search makes clear: ing of another teen and • Roughly a third of teens threatens to show the video who use the Internet said on the Internet. The local they’d received threatening sheriff says the attack was in messages, had e-mail or text retaliation for online trash- messages forwarded without talking by the victim. 1 consent, had an embarrassing At a high school near picture posted without con- Pittsburgh, an anonymous sent, had rumors about them e-mail list features sexually spread online, or experienced explicit rankings of 25 female some other kind of online ha- students, names and photos rassment, according to the Pew included. 2 Research Center. 6 In suburban Dardenne • About 9 percent of re- Prairie, Mo., near St. Louis, spondents ages 10 through 17 13-year-old Megan Meier said they were victims of hangs herself after receiving threats or other offensive be- cruel messages on the social- Talbot AP Photo/Toby havior, not counting sexual so- networking site MySpace. She After cyberbullies drove his son Ryan to suicide, John licitation, that was sent online Halligan created a Web page devoted to the 13-year-old, thinks the messages are from who had been harassed for months by classmates in to them or about them for a boy she met online, but Essex Junction, Vt., including instant messages calling others to see, according to a the messages are a hoax. 3 him gay. “He just went into a deep spiral in eighth 2005 University of New Hamp- In Essex Junction, Vt., 13- grade,” said his father, who advocates a state law shire survey. That rate was up year-old Ryan Patrick Halligan forcing schools to develop anti-bullying 50 percent from a similar sur- policies. “He couldn’t shake this rumor.” kills himself after months of vey five years earlier. 7 harassment, including instant messages abuse. While many instances are rel- • More than 70 percent of heavy calling him gay. “He just went into a atively harmless, others can have se- Internet users ages 12 through 17 deep spiral in eighth grade,” said his rious, long-lasting effects, ranging from — mostly girls — said they had father, who advocates a state law forc- acute emotional distress, academic experienced at least one incident ing schools to develop anti-bullying poli- problems and school absenteeism to of online intimidation via e-mail, cies. “He couldn’t shake this rumor.” 4 violence, a desire for revenge and vul- cell phones, chat rooms and other The cases, albeit extreme, high- nerability to sexual predation. electronic media in the previous light what school officials, child Studies show cyberbullying affects year, according to a national sur- psychologists, legal experts and gov- millions of adolescents and young vey posted on a teen Web site in ernment researchers argue is a fast- adults and can be more prevalent 2005 by Jaana Juvonen, a psy- spreading epidemic of “cyberbully- among girls than boys, especially in chology professor at the Univer- ing” — the use of the Internet, cell the earlier grades. The Centers for Dis- sity of California at Los Angeles. phones and other digital technology ease Control and Prevention last year A fifth of respondents reported to harass, intimidate, threaten, mock labeled “electronic aggression” — its seven or more incidents. 8 and defame. term for cyberbullying — an “emerg- Some cyberbullies are angry loners or Experts say cyberbullying has be- ing public-health problem.” 5 Still, a misfits, sometimes seeking revenge for come a scourge of the adolescent