Anti-Cyber Bullying Legislation Proposed
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With the growing use of social media sites and cell phone technology, some members of the state legislature say it’s time to include ‘cyber-bullying’ in the list of offenses. Students we spoke with said they think cyber-bullying is more common than physical taunting. “I do see bullying going on in school,” said Crockett County High School Senior Jesse Stroud. “It’s usually not the physical type of bullying – it’s more the emotional side. People talking bad to each other. Especially things that have to do with Facebook.” Facebook, text messages, and instant messages. To most high school students, they’re means of catching up with friends. Soon, however, if they’re used to Harris or intimidate others, they could be means of facing legal punishment. Now, legislators are pushing to include the term ‘cyber-bullying’ in current harassment and bullying statutes. “Bullying by definition is something that happens repeatedly over time. It’s not just one comment made in one situation,” said CCHS counselor, Jennifer McCauley. “So students are not going to make one slip of the tongue comment and go to jail for that.” And Tennessee isn’t the only state looking to make the Internet safe from bullies: Mississippi lawmakers just passed a bill that makes cyber-bullying a crime that could result in jail-time. McCauley says she understands why. “Right now school do what they can and I think law enforcement is going to do what they can,” McCauley said. “But I think the stricter law would help.” And so do many students. “When you mentally hurt someone they’re getting torn down in so many different ways,” said CCHS senior Ariel Hamilton. “Mentally terrorizing someone can make them physically terrorize themself.”
