Mojo Press 2011 (www.NoBullyingTour.com)

 

“OMG! Did u get that pic? LOL!”  Have you ever sent or received a message like this?  If, so it was probably just in good fun, but too often messages like this are part of cyber bullying.  Cyber bullying is any time you use Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, blogs, You Tube, pictures, videos, cell phones, text messages, instant message, or any other type of social media to hate on or spread negativity about other people (Mr. Mojo, 2011). So, are you a cyber bully?  This is an important question to stop and think about for a moment.  

In today’s society the use of social media to communicate is customary.  Often times, however, hiding behind a computer or cell phone gives one a false sense of security that leads to saying hurtful and malicious about others.  While, you may just be expressing your emotions, this can be a form of bullying, and bullying is not acceptable.  Not only is cyber bullying morally and ethically wrong, it can have astonishing consequences.

Megan Meier, Phoebe Prince, Paige Moravetz, Haylee Fentress, Billy Lucas, Jared High, Eric Mohat, and many more adolescents have taken their own lives as a result of bullying. Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, in a new review of studies from 13 countries, have found signs of an apparent connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide.   The study found connections between being bullied and suicidal thoughts among children.  In fact, the research indicates that bullying victims were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts than were other children (abcnews.com, 2009).

Words do hurt, so choose your words wisely.  Words on social networking sites NEVER go away, so choose your words wisely.  Words effect lives, so choose your words wisely.  Leaders choose their words wisely, so be a leader, take a stand, and MOJO UP! For more Information please go to www.NoBullyingTour.com