Personal commentary

I believe cyber bullying to be a great issue that has gotten and deserves to get public recognition.  The internet is a useful tool that was designed to benefit and enhance the lives of individuals.  With it, as with everything, comes positive aspects as well as negative ones.  However, the internet cannot be to blame for this particular social issue of cyber bullying.  As I have previously mentioned several times the internet is only a platform in which allows individuals to cyber bully, it is the means to an end, as is commonly said.  The main issue of cyber bullying is one which is socially derived; it begins with individuals, their relationships with one another, their behaviour and actions.  Cyber bullying has received great media attention, as it should, because of the unfortunate events that have followed its occurrence.  Although many technological changes have been made on the internet to protect individuals from cyber bullying I believe more needs to be done to put an end to it for good.  So far I believe individuals have only tried to hide the issue using technology to block or delete it from existence; however they haven’t really dealt with the root of the problem.  I believe the most effective means to terminate cyber bullying are informational sites and increased awareness.  Efforts have been made in this direction, however in my opinion not enough.  We must let individuals see the effects of cyber bullying with the attempt to change how individuals interact with one another and to encourage more positive decision making.  It is up to individuals to make the change, the internet is not to blame and the day that everyone realizes this will be the day that cyber bullying is no longer a social issue to be discussed.  We have the choice to say no to cyber bullying and to encourage others to do the same.  In the end, regardless of if one is punished for their actions, it is not worth it.  Harming another individual not only hurts them but also hurts you.  As a victim of bullying in my childhood I feel strongly about this topic and would like to see this social issue resolved in my lifetime.