Domestic Violence?....

Today I found another article that highlighted the issue that I am researching on social networking that included both positives and negatives. The article is titled “Friend Request or Foe? Confirming the misuse of internet and social networking sites by domestic violence perpetrators” it was written by Laurie L. Baughman who is a senior attorney at the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence. The article describes situations that have resulted, from domestic violence and victims, and perpetrators and the use of social networking sites, such as FaceBook and MySpace. The problems included victims that continued the use of their “personal sites” i.e. FaceBook accounts, twitter and MySpace etc, and the person responsible for hurting them continuing to lay abuse on them via their social web pages. Other prominent problems that have been highlighted are that perpetrators are finding their victims and in some instances confrontations ending in death. Although the article has a main focus on negatives of social networking and victims, it also has a small part dedicated to what some of the positives that social networking has with victims. It has been discovered that more and more victims are becoming involved into online support groups and finding help through that way. Overall I found this article as a powerful force; I never knew all the things that could go wrong with social networking and victims of domestic violence, makes you want to be more careful on the internet.

Last day of cyberbullying..

Cyber Bullying Podcast..

This podcast is an interview with the general manager of netalert Ms Lara MacDonnell; she discusses the recent findings of the “surveys of kids and parents about on internet safety conducted by netalert Australia internet safety advisory body and their co-operative community partner ninemsn found that cyber bullying in Australia is now starting as early primary schools.” This is alarming not only to teachers but to parents and other Australians, this implies that something must be done as the feel of this podcast is that this is a serious issue, with the use of statistics you have a clearer image just how serious cyber bullying is. Lara MacDonnell states "that with the survey the results were quite high with 16% of girls have been bullied online and with 14% of girls being bullied through their mobiles, but the astounding fact is that only 7% of parents even knew that cyber bullying was occurring with their children." With this type of media message it makes a clear and defining statement that work needs to be done to fix this fast emerging problem.

Journal Entry Number 4..

Teens driven to suicide by cyber bullying..

This article was written by Gemma Jones from the Daily Telegraph, the article goes into detail about some statistics and basic information about cyber bullying as well as details about what the NSW Government is starting to do on the matter. The article states that the “NSW Government has formed an advisory panel of teenagers who have asked for drastic measures, including education classes for students and their parents and a phone helpline, to stop the growing problem”

Kid’s Helpline 1800 551 800

“In the most serious circumstances, online bullying can end in long-term mental health issues and suicide” The NSW Youth Advisory Council said. As from my previous journal entries it proves that this is a fact, death does occur from cyber bullying although I am yet to discover a resource that shows about mental health but if teenagers are willing to commit suicide than they must have had a mental problem first.


From using statistics and information about what the Government is doing to help stop and preventing cyber bullying, the media presents this article in a serious light. The added effect by using statistics makes the issue feel more real and problematic. But overall Gemma Jones the writer of the article ‘Teens driven to suicide by cyber bullying’ has given a more mature and endearing story that may help broaden the knowledge of cyber bullying to readers.

3rd Entry... Doesn't look good..

Stopping the violence....

This news report was aired on Tuesday the 16th by A Current Affair, the report showed a horrific video of a schoolyard fight, where a bunch of girls were attacking one another. The video was caught on a by standers phone, with technology the ability to record and broadcast things off your phone on to YouTube has become an increasingly common. With the attack being a sign on bullying but with the added video recording and posting on sites such as YouTube and facebook, it has become a cyber bullying attack as well as a physical one.

“These days with technology, if you’re a bully you don’t even have to show your face,” said anti-bullying counsellor Susan Berne from the news report. Since airing of the show viewers have sent in several other brutal attacks. It’s just amazing that by standers would record and upload these attacks, its taking cyber bullying to another level with displaying physical bullying and cyber bullying all in one. With the media presenting it this way it appears that they are trying to show just what exactly is occurring on our streets and in our schools. This report has the feel that it is more for just raising awareness and not to try and change the world feel, unlike the ad prevention YouTube clip. It becomes obvious that it is more of an awareness report when the report ends with tips for both the parents and the victims of bullying.

Despite not really being a part of my research journal I've decided to still put in all the tips from the Anti-Bullying counsellor Susan Berne as someone may find it beneficial

Tips for parents:

· Always support your child — they must feel like you're on their side
· Tell the school — speak to someone with real authority
· If the matter isn't resolved, consider changing schools
· Research other schools' bullying policies … Will they take effective action?
· Get more information on building your child's self-esteem so they feel confident in their new environment

Tips for helping victims of bullying:

· Ignore / don't respond to bullies
· Keep evidence of the bullying
· Block contact with bullies as much as possible
· Importantly, tell someone — especially your parents and a trusted teacher
· Let your parents take action, even if it makes you feel a bit uncomfortable
· As much as possible, avoid situations where bullying could take place

Another day.. another entry..

As I was researching for my next journal entry I decided to have another look into YouTube and I found this commercial used to try and prevent cyber bullying occurring, the ad states “If you wouldn’t say it in person, why say it online?” Despite being an extremely nasty and awakening type of commercial it uses the wrong type of wording as to when it says "if you wouldn’t say it in person why say it online", because truth be told a lot of people, teenagers mainly do say that sort of nasty stuff in person and that is called bullying, while doing it online is cyber bullying.

The media’s approach to this should have realised that there is a difference to how this is displayed, and a better wording would have been more appropriate to suit the need to prevent and discourage cyber bullying.

For example If you were telling this to a person just like this then it would be bullying but you have to be face to face unlike cyber bullying where you can follow the person right into their homes, and end it with a new text message sign, something as such. Yes the ad may be effective for a fair amount of the targeted audience but for the other part, they would realise that it is not as effective as bullies do say that sort of thing in person and online.