Cyber+Bullying+Reflection

Through this project I have learned the numerous opportunities the Internet has to offer but every invention has its flaws. This project made me more aware of the things I post on my //Facebook// and different Internet websites. I first explored how bullying made teenagers feel and how it impacted them. Since there are more than one type of bullying, I focused on cyber bullying because the Internet is a fairly new type of technology and the Internet is becoming apart of my generations every day life. Through all of my research I have learned that bullying has become a growing problem in the world but that because of the transparency of the Internet. This problem is not gender based and everyone is at risk of being cyber bullied. Although the problem is not based on gender I have found a difference between males and female reaction to being cyber bullied. When I read stories about males, I have found that they are harder on themselves and feel like they should not talk about it because it makes them appear “weak.” When I read stories of females, the girls are also afraid to talk about their problem, but eventually they ask for advice sooner than males do. I also found that the age of the victims is a big factor in how they handle cyber bullying. The older, more mature teenagers are more likely talk about their problems because they are more comfortable with who they are. The younger, not as mature teenagers, keep cyber bullying a secret because they have more insecurity about themselves and they don’t want to appear as a “tattle tale.” This project helped me learn more about my generation and how the Internet has become a great asset to society, but also the importance of understanding the dangers of using the Internet.