Discuss issues of problematic online interactions such as cyberbullying, solicitation and harassment. I think most of us can agree that these are bad
things… but there is sometimes a tendency for people to say “oh well kids just need thicker skin these days, it’s not like they are really being
bullied/beat up.” This could not be more incorrect, because as is regularly seen in the news, cyberbullying is a huge influence to depression and even suicide
among kids/teens and is a real issue with college-age students. Arizona State University did some research last year about harassment sent via text messaging,
and SO MANY students at ASU had examples of when this happened to them. It is particularly harmful because it is part of a pattern of being bullied/harassed
in person/at school, but unlike the old days, people now have the bullies follow them home via technology. The only way to avoid the bullying is to not have a
Facebook page and not have a cellphone, in which case, you have been socially cut off, which is a horrible way to live (for many of us “tech babies”). So, I
would like you to consider the questions regarding legal issues. Knowing that cyberbullying/harassment/solicitation/deception are bad things, should there be
laws to help protect people from it? What should the laws include/where should the line be drawn in terms of what is “illegal harassment/bullying” and what is
free speech? If the victims/perpetrators are children, then who should be held accountable? The child, the parents, the school? Use the readings to support
your claims, and feel free to draw from popular press stories you have heard about or use personal examples.