Laws Against Cyber Bullying

The number of laws against cyber bullying has significantly increased in recent times which have been greatly welcomed by children support groups, parents, and professionals involved in all levels of the educational system. Given the potentially very damaging effect that cyber bullying can have on the victims.

Are the laws concerning cyber bullying proportionate and just?

There can be no denying that the various laws that have been passed concerning cyber bullying have been mired by controversy and criticism and so it would seem that everyone has an opinion on the matter. Some argue that by legislating against cyber bullying, this makes it all the easier for unpleasant but ultimately normal teenager behavior to be criminalized and sanction in a formal setting.

Another argument that has been put forward with regards to the issue is that cyber bullying should be an issue that is best dealt with by the school administration infrastructure. Indeed, certain states of America have adopted precisely this approach and have done so by granting schools wider reaching powers to deal with cyber bullying even if the bullying did not actually occur on school grounds or property.

Some people have also contested that cyber bullying is a reflection of the parents, after all, how responsible and committed can they be as guardians if they permit their children to harass and intimidate fellow students and peers? As such then, the penalties that can arise with regards to cyber bullying are best reserved for the parents as opposed to the children.

What are some of the laws against cyber bullying?

As briefly alluded to earlier within the article, cyber bullying is a topic that defies universal definition and so different jurisdictions have varying ideas as to what it encompasses, as well as the sanctions that can arise should it occur.

For example, in Arkansas, school administrators are legally empowered to discipline and impose sanctions on the children found to be responsible for the cyber bullying even if the cyber bullying was carried out on their own personal computers, or computer systems out with the school.

Idaho by contrast, specifically stipulates that schools can only impose sanctions on children for the crime of cyber bullying in such instances where they have carried out the offence using school resources.

The sad truth of the matter is this: laws against cyber bullying can only reduce the chances of cyber bullying taking place, they can never truly eradicate it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is our duty as parents.