The MySpace Suicide: 6 Months Later
It's been six months since a Missouri newspaper first broke the tragic story of 13 year-old Megan Meier who committed suicide after being cyberbullied on MySpace. Her death has incited the nation to take action against cyberbullying.
Legal Updates
- Lori Drew has been indicted on conspiracy and fraud charges. If convicted, she could serve up to 20 years in federal prison.
- Missouri lawmakers have passed a bill outlawing cyber-harassment via computers, text messages, and other electronic devices.
- Several other states have passed or are considering similar laws that make cyberbullying illegal.
What You Should Know
- Cyberbullying cases are difficult to prosecute.
Lori Drew's indictment is not without its critics. Advocates of free speech and online anonymity strongly oppose prosecuting people for creating fake online identities.
- School involvement is possible, but tricky.
With cyberbullying taking place both in the home and at school, school administrators are having a tough time deciding where their authority begins and ends.
- Cyberbullying is no joke.
Kids can be deeply affected by bullying and when it's online for all to see, its effects are amplified. Parents and guardians need to talk openly with children about the effects of cyberbullying and work with their communities to effectively address cyberbullying wherever it occurs.
