Apart from Anti-Bullying Act, why should there be a separate law that focuses on cyberbullying?

As we must all probably know, bullying now just do not only happen during close encounters between victims and bullies, but also without needing those encounters for the act to happen.

As one of its many branches, cyberbullying has been proven to be one of the worst types--but the effects are just the same. Victims are also left on the usual state. They are also left on distress, but what makes it worse is that for the fact that it’s happening on such great medium which is the internet, it circulates very quickly and it’s so hard to stop, and sometimes, victims are suffering from the wrongdoings of faceless and nameless people scattered all over the internet.

Because of this fact, undeniably, apart from the Anti-Bullying Law that we already have, what we need is a more stronger and specific law that will help and support on our battle against cyberbullying.

If an Anti-Cyberbullying Act will come to be approved, then, those who’ve been so bold on treating other people poorly on the internet will finally have the right punishment that they deserve, users’ rights and safety will be protected, and victims of bullying will have new hope.

The approval and implementation of this act is a must, given the situation that our modern world is facing. But, aside from only relying on this once it becomes possible, we should remember that it would be here only as an aid, and if we really want to make changes, we must take actions. We must fight. Everything is still up on our own hands.

Source: Google Images

WEEK 4.

Situation 4.

A guy Nandita knew asked her to a party. She politely declines, making up an excuse not to go. When Nandita received a second and third invitation to go out with the guy, he started sending her creepy emails and text messages. The messages referred to her "hot" body and contained sexual comments. Nandita told her friend who advised Nandita to ignore it. When the unwanted messages continued, Nandita went to her school Guidance Counselor, even though she felt embarrassed to discuss the problem. The counselor told Nandita that she was sexually harassed and that the school administrators would take actions to make the harassment stop.

Discuss how well you think the person handled cyberbullying and how you might have handled it differently.

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For such a serious matter like this, I must say that I am really impressed on how Nandita handled all that’s in front of her.

She really made the right decision to tell an elderly about her situation, and if I were her, I would also do what she did because it’s clear that she’s being degraded and her safety and reputation are at stake because of those photos and messages.

Consulting an adult regarding this kind of matter, no matter how embarrassing it seems is the best thing that one can do in order to prevent worse things from happening and also prevent oneself from having a lot of regrets from their decisions that--if not done as impulses--were poorly been thought about.

Does bullying behavior make the bully more or less popular?

For a lot of people these days, everything's about popularity; what matters is their place on the hierarchy.

Fame and social status.

Some perpetrators of bullying appear to be living for these, and the fact that they earn recognition for their bullying acts, they become more persistent to further increase their place on the social ladder. And although they shine in a bad way, it doesn't matter to them anymore, for what's important for them is to maintain their status.

Indeed, bullying behavior makes the bullies more popular, and studies show that this popularity that they attain just makes them even more aggressive.

In order for us to end their hostile demeanor, we should all learn to speak up against their actions. Whether we are victims or bystanders, we should learn to stand up for what is right. We should discourage them with the purpose of changing their minds, and just continue on opposing their acts until they realize that what they are doing is socially unacceptable--until they stop.

Source: Google Images

READ:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/08/do-popular-kids-bully-more/

http://www.livescience.com/11737-popularity-increases-aggression-kids-study-finds.html

WEEK 3.

Situation 3:

Someone who Rashad had "friended" on Facebook--a person he had met once at a party but didn't know very well--started posting weird photographs on Rashad's timeline. After discussing the situation with his dad, Rashad sent the person a private message asking him to stop, but the inappropriate postings continued. Rashad added three additional actions: he "unfriended" the person on Facebook, he blocked the person from seeing his Facebook account, and he finally reported the offensive photographs to Facebook administrators.

Discuss how well you think the person handled cyberbullying and how you might have handled it differently.

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Given that the bullying happened on such broad medium, in my opinion, Rashad had already taken all measures possible in order for the situation not to worsen anymore.

He had made a really smart decision when he decided not to treat the problem as if it was just nothing. And since he already did actions available using the features of the social media site, I believe that it's already enough, and I would've done just the same.

It's a good thing that people nowadays are knowledgeable enough about the things that they can do with the internet, but what's even better is that there are those people like Rashad who knows how to use that knowledge intelligently such as on terms of protecting oneself.

Should bystanders of bullying cases be penalized as well?

When we have talks about bullying, we often visualize instances of it with only having two actors portraying the roles--the bully and the victim. In every situation imagined and in every incident seen, most of the time, we just pay attention on these two, missing the other characters in the picture: bystanders.

As we all know, bystanders are witnesses of bullying cases. Having them as part of the issue but not having direct involvement, question is: should they be penalized as well?

Bystanders behave differently from each other, and penalization is such a serious matter, that's why I know that we can all agree that it should only be given to those who have worsen the situation and contributed to the problem--those bystanders who took their part by instigating, encouraging, and/or joining in the bullying.

On the other hand, I believe that those who chose to remain idle about it should not be blamed nor be subjected to penalty for they have their own reasons for not intervening, and those who bravely stood up for the victims' rights should by all means, be commended.

In the end, only after seeing how the bystanders responded is the only time we could tell whether they deserve punishment or not. Only then we could tell what decisions should be done and what actions should be taken.

HELPFUL Bystanders

HURTFUL Bystanders
Sources: Google Images

WATCH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yl3nmon59w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzMNoeDovFg

WEEK 2.

Situation 2:

A friend of Doris received a text message accusing Doris of having shoplifted a makeup from a department store. The story was false, and the person spreading the rumor was jealous that Doris got excellent grades. Doris discovered that this person had spread the same text rumor to at least two of her friends. Doris discussed the situation with her coach after the soccer practice. The coach suggested that Doris send the girl a text message asking her to stop spreading the rumor. He also advised her to get copies of the text rumor from her friends to keep as evidence in case the problem continued.

Discuss how well you think the person handled cyberbullying and how you might have handled it differently.

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Her coach's advice can be a good solution. However, if I were to make some kind of adjustment to it, instead of just sending the girl a text message for her to stop, I will be the one to tell her that face-to-face.

I think that it will better if I will be able to say my thoughts and requests to her as we talk in person, as well as know what her motives are for doing such thing to me.

In this way I believe that we might be able to settle the issue faster, and we might also be able to find ways to reconcile.

Why should house bill entitled "An Act of Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Cyberbullying" otherwise known as the Anti-Cyberbullying Act of 2015 be published?

All thanks to the innovations that these past decades have brought to us, we are now living far way differently from that of the past. These innovations have made a lot of improvements in our way of living, and also caused a great progress on our technology.

The onset of this particular advancement empowered people around the globe with such power to gather information about almost everything under the sun with just a few clicks, and virtual connection with everyone in the internet with anonymity, if the user would prefer.

But, nowadays, a lot of "netizens"--a term used to describe members of the internet--are clearly using these privileges irresponsibly, committing different acts of cruelty intended to harm or inflict fear to their fellow users. Hence, leading to the birth of cyberbullying.

Being one of our society's modern "evils", bullying have already affected countless lives ever since, and now that it has took another form, it just made it more widespread, in addition to the traditional forms.

Cyberbullying can happen to anybody in anytime for it has a lot of mediums to where it can occur. Once contents are shared, its eradication will be hard for it will circulate nonstop, leaving poor victims enduring without nothing to do.

Therefore, in order to protect internet users, the Anti-Cyberbullying Act of 2015 should indeed be passed.

This act is necessary as it will serve as a measure to defend the rights of every members of the online community against offensive, rude, and insulting acts that may affect one's well-being.

Through this, people would be encouraged to become accountable for their cyber-actions. The rules and regulations written in the act can serve as their to-do and no-to-do guide on using the internet.

Also, the penalization of those who'll be found guilty will serve justice to those who seek. The act would be a great help to finally find and punish those who have been so reckless--those who have ruined lives due to their doings. 

The approval and implementation of House Bill 5718 which aims to define and penalize the crime of cyberbullying would surely aid in our battle against bullying and all the destructive aftermaths that it brings. And along with our individual efforts, I believe that we will be able to put an end to this.

Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andaya
Author of House Bill 5718

READ: 

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/27/1459305/anti-cyber-bullying-act-2015-pushed

http://technology.inquirer.net/42356/cyber-bullying-via-social-media-seen-as-crime

WEEK 1.

Situation 1:

Carl began receiving hostile messages from an address he didn't recognize. He suspected the emails were from someone he knew because they criticized his hairstyle and clothes he wore to school. Carl decided not to tell his parents about the problem because he thought his parents might restrict his internet privileges as a result.

Discuss how well you think the person handled cyberbullying and how you might have handled it differently.

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Putting one's interests first above his own safety sounds too imprudent and absurd, I must say.

Just the thought of having someone who constantly sends hate messages to you is already disturbing, and the fact that this nameless person seems to be knowing a lot about you adds up to the horror.

In my opinion, Carl is absolutely mistaken about the decision that he'd made, and I think anyone who would have read his case would surely tell the same thing.

If I were him, I would exactly do the opposite of what he did. I would immediately tell my parents about the situation for they are more capable of finding a solution. Yes, they may not resolve the problem directly, but I know that they would have their ways and more than anyone else, I'm sure that they would do all that they can to help me.

Instead of fearing the limitations that my parents might set once they learn about my situation--which is so irrational by the way, isn't it more appropriate for me to fear the person who's anonymously hiding behind the screen and the harm and danger that he might inflict?

Although it is still just a series of messages yet, I won't be waiting for something worse to occur. I won't be risking myself, that's why I would do what I think is right, and I believe that this will be the best choice.