Cyberbullying is on the rise among today’s youth.

Megan Meier was a typical 13 year old girl, and like many girls transitioning into the world of teenagers, she had issues with low self-esteem. So when she was suddenly befriended by an unknown, but attractive boy on MySpace, she begged her mom to let her add him. Over the next six weeks, Megan and her new friend Josh developed a close relationship.

However, suddenly Josh began acting cold towards Megan, saying mean and hurtful things to her. Soon the bullying spread to the public forum of MySpace, as Megan was bullied by both Josh and her peers. Finally, Megan was pushed over the edge when Josh told her that everyone hated her and the world would be a better place without her. That night Megan committed suicide.

The cyberbullying Megan faced is not an uncommon occurrence among many youths in today’s society. The growing use of cell phones and computers among younger and younger children creates an ever increasing, and ever present environment in which cyberbullying can occur. According to a National Crime Prevention Council survey, 43% of teenagers age 13 to 17 reported being cyberbullied in 2005. As the use of technology continues to grow among younger and younger children, the potential for cyberbullying will only increase.

Furthermore, the anonymity of cyberbullying makes it increasingly simple. Children no longer have to stand in front of their peers to taunt them. Instead, teens can send an instant message through the computer without ever saying who they are or facing the immediate consequences of their actions. Those who normally would not partake in traditional bullying now find it much simpler to engage in cyberbullying and those who traditionally could find peace outside of the school setting, are now constantly vulnerable to being bullied.

Cyberbullying becomes even more troublesome when it is done in the many public forums of social networking, like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. Teens can be anonymously humiliated in front of hundreds of their peers, often with no way to defend themselves. With no higher authority to control the situation, it can quickly escalate out of control.

Being bullied is not something that all teenagers can simply shake off or just ignore. It interferes with scholastic achievement, development of social skills, and feelings of well-being. Moreover, cyberbullying can push to the brink those adolescents who are less stable in their identity.

While all forms of bullying affect the mental health of those involved, cyberbullying has a particularly severe impact on the mental health of those children falling victim to cyberbullying. Traditionally, bullies, bully-victims (those that are involved as both the bully and the victim), and victims were all at similar risk for depression.

According to a National Institute of Health study, victims of cyberbullying, are at an increased risk for depression as opposed to cyberbullies or bully-victims. If left unchecked, cyberbullying can result in anxiety, depression, and in some cases, suicide.

Seven Valleys Health Coalition works with Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC) to help combat the growing epidemic that is cyberbullying. Programs and initiatives focused on decreasing risk factors and improving access to mental health services work to eliminate the by-products that often stem from bullying, such as substance abuse, delinquency, and mental illness. Every child in our community should know that though stick and stones may hurt, words don’t have to.