Are You Shocked Yet?
Teen shock videos are becoming more popular on YouTube and social networking sites. Several cases in the U.S. indicate that kids are videotaping and posting fights online in order to gain Internet fame. Police in Boulder, CO broke up one teen fight club and are investigating others. In another case, a 16 year-old girl in Lakeland, FL was assaulted by a group of six girls while two boys stood guard. One of her assailants then posted the video online. The girls allegedly attacked her because of comments the victim made on MySpace. While cases like these have drawn media attention to the issue, this is not a new trend.
Talk to your kids about the draw of watching and creating shock videos. Make sure they understand that posting these videos online will not bring them fame but infamy. Remind them that videos posted online can be used by police as evidence in a crime and that both the "actors" and the "camera person" could be prosecuted. This is good news for bullying victims who now have evidence of the assaults. If you or your child sees evidence of a crime online, don't ignore it! Notify the police and help send a message about responsible online behavior. Check out these tips for parents about how to talk to your kids about online violence from Common Sense Media.
