Cyber bullying

BlueBella

So sad to hear of that poor young girl who hung herself due to cyber bullying. As a victim myself (via Facebook) I can understand how that girl must have felt.

On the news today, they were talking about clamping down on sites that do not take bullying seriously. When I was bullied on Facebook, I reported the bullies but nothing was done. I received no help from Facebook and the bullies did not have their accounts deactivated. So in other words - Facebook's answer to bullying is 'just block them!' (they don't care that the bullies will just start on another innocent victim!)

What I hate about Facebook is there is no way of contacting them - if you receive a ban - you cannot get contact them to ask why?, or to prove your innocence. If we report companies for not running comps in the right way they don't seem o give a f***. I hope the Government starts threatening to clamp down on them next!

wingobins

I totally agree. It's so sad when you hear of more suicide victims because of cyber bullying. My teenage DD wants to go on fb or twitter as all of her class seem to be on it but I can't explain to her enough about the dangers of social network sites. She is vulnerable anyway, extremely shy and lacks confidence and has learning difficulties and she was already bullied a yr ago on fb by other kids in her class even though she wasnt on fb! They said some very nasty comments about her and rumours were spread about things she wouldn't even know what meant. Thankfully word got back to a teacher and the culprits were 'warned'. I feel guilty for not allowing her on such sites even though I can monitor it, I know my DD and how upset she would be if anything was said to her. I don't want to take that chance unless it was blocked before it got to the victim and the culprits were caught.
Sorry to hear you were also bullied too I hope it gets stamped out once and for all as I know how hurtful and distressing it can be, like when the trolls decide to pay a visit on here.

Lagoon

I agree that it's sad, but at the same time you only need to access any random Ask.fm profile and you see the types of questions people are asking and answering. It doesn't take a genius to look at that and decide that signing up is a bad idea - you have to go to the effort of signing up, so it's not like this is ever an 'accident'.

I'm more sympathetic towards Facebook and Twitter users because they're social networks and are more than that, but the sole purpose of Ask.fm is to allow people to ask you questions (usually anonymously), and if you've ever looked at the site then you'll see it's not all innocent 'What's your sister's name? What did you have for breakfast?'.

Like I say, very tragic as these things always are, but on Ask.fm I think most of the responsibility lies with the person that signed up.

Prothet_of_Doom

Social Networking is addictive, but I know a number of my daughters teenage friends who have deleted thier face book accounts. And good on them I say. They've started getting together for a hour at the end of the week, as they all seem to have ended up at different colleges and sixth forms, and just chat for an hour, to catch up.

Zanzib

One of my sons uses FB to keep in touch with his friends.

His brother got nothing but hassle so closed his FB account- he's very level-headed.

But I certainly wouldn't let my special-needs son anywhere near these sites...

Just as there are bullies out in the world, in school and at work, they're online because it's harder to find them...

BlueBella

What scares me is what the bullies who managed to push that girl into hanging herself will grow up to be. If they are 'monsters' now - what will they be like as adults? More likely abusers or serial killers

BlueBella

My eldest is 9 and there is no way I would let him near a social networking site - and he won't get a mobile for a few years either!

sheils6

Just been talking to my 15 year old DD about the Ask site. She was trying to explain to me how it works. I still don't really understand but she seems to think it is good although she knows someone who deleted their account because of bullying. I did say to her that I hoped she would delete hers if that happened to her to which she replied "You must be joking no-one is going to force me to do that"
She did say her boyfriend had been told to go and jump off a bridge and replied with "Why are we going swimming?" I think some comments about killing yourself are used quite a bit but in most case are supposed to be a joke. Don't think most of us would understand what is happening on it. I have decided kids need to be confident to use these sites or they could get upset easily.

BlueBella

sheils6 wrote: »

Just been talking to my 15 year old DD about the Ask site. She was trying to explain to me how it works. I still don't really understand but she seems to think it is good although she knows someone who deleted their account because of bullying. I did say to her that I hoped she would delete hers if that happened to her to which she replied "You must be joking no-one is going to force me to do that"
She did say her boyfriend had been told to go and jump off a bridge and replied with "Why are we going swimming?" I think some comments about killing yourself are used quite a bit but in most case are supposed to be a joke. Don't think most of us would understand what is happening on it. I have decided kids need to be confident to use these sites or they could get upset easily.

But there are shy victims and victims with mental health problems that aren't as strong. I suffer from mental health problems and I have attempted suicide several times due to bullying throughout my school days, teenage years and adult years. What still runs through my mind is that my most recent bullies were other mothers! :eek: How would they have felt if one of their kids was a victim of bullying when they were bullies themselves? It is all just sick!

BlueBella

Anyway back to what I originally spoke about - I hope the Government takes a firm hand with Facebook and makes them act on complaints or reports. We need to be able to contact them and make them listen!

sheils6

It is a shame that everyone can't use the sites without being bullied. My DD is really anti- bullying and sticks up for her shy friends everywhere but it isn't really possible on line. I don't like the sound of the Ask site at all and if she wasn't as confident I would try to stop her using it.