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AP Seminar

19 May 2020

Mitigating Cyberbullying Among American Teenagers via Legislation

As of today, it is estimated that, “In the United States... 95 percent [of teens] have access

to various [social media] platforms through smartphones” (Kwan et al. 72), and between 20 to 40

percent of adolescents become a victim to online bullying (Kwan et al. 73). Cyberbullying is

defined as, “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and

other electronic devices” (Miller 380). It can be more harmful than traditional bullying because

the perpetrator’s anonymity, the victim’s constant invasion of privacy, and the audience’s much

larger capacity (Goodine 19). Online harassment usually spills over into the real world, leaving

the victim with the inability to escape (Large et al. 197). The persistence of internet bullying

promotes temporary satisfaction without any consideration for its lasting impacts; a solution to

which should bring the most long-term benefits and promote healthy relationships between

teenagers in the U.S., while sustaining their mental wellness. Furthermore, British philosopher

and advocate of utilitarianism (“John Stuart Mill”) John Stuart Mill states, “...happiness is the

sole end of human action, and the promotion of it the test by which to judge of all human

conduct; from whence it necessarily follows that it must be the criterion of morality, since a part

is included in the whole” (Mill 15). Following his logic, it can be concluded that bullying via

technology endangers adolescents and their achievement of happiness; therefore, it is damaging

to society as a whole and must be stopped as it is morally wrong to allow it to persist. Such a

large portion of the younger generation should not be put at risk. Considering this, a question

arises: What does the frequency of bullying via social media between American teenagers

suggest about a need for the U.S. to enact a policy against cyberbullying? Cyberharassment must
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be diminished now because it is predicted to become worse as technological advancements and

access increases (Goodine 19). The U.S. has yet to enact any federal laws specifically targeting

online harassment (Hostetler 3-4) and only a few states “specify criminal sanctions such as fines

and even jail time for the conduct” (Hinduja and Patchin 1). Thus, the enactment of stricter

online security policies in the U.S. is necessary to mitigate the future effects of cyberbullying

because of the mental health effects of online harassment, the continued dependency of

American teenagers on social media, and their perception of a lack of consequences.

American teenagers face numerous mental health issues caused or exacerbated by

cyberbullying. Studies of adolescent health conclude that these effects include “lower levels of

self‐esteem, life satisfaction, and academic achievement and... higher levels of in‐person

victimization and bullying perpetration, loneliness, substance use, depressive symptoms, anger,

and anxiety” (Mehari et al. 616). Mehari, assistant professor of developmental psychology at the

University of South Alabama (“Krista Mehari”), and her colleagues describe the effects of

internet bullying, which significantly impact the lives of victims, a substantial portion of whom

are teens. Young lives become more difficult as a direct result of being bullied online. Mitigating

these effects is necessary to ensure the healthy lives of children; creating federal policies

preventing such harassment will discourage teenagers from participating. Furthermore,

cyberbullying interferes with the education of teenagers. Patricia Goodine, researcher of

educational studies, finds that cyberbullying often negatively affects concentration and

performance in school (Goodine 20). Poor grades and truancy lead to further stress on the victim,

compromising their future. Low academic performance decreases their opportunities and ability

to thrive moving forward. Goodine’s inquiries substantiate Mehari et al.’s in that they both agree

that cyberbullying is detrimental to the welfare of teens. The same assertion is supported by an
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investigation into cyberpsychology, which demonstrates that youth with mental health problems

are more likely to be targets than their peers, intensifying such conditions (Kwan et al.76). As

stated by Mehari et al., the recipient of such behavior may feel extremely isolated, which in turn

reduces the likelihood they will seek help. Consequently, increasing suicide rates may be

associated with the rise in internet usage and online bullying (Knopf 9). The wellbeing of

teenagers struggling the most is endangered as harassment continues, creating an elevated risk of

suicide in these individuals; feelings of isolation and an inability to escape intensify this risk.

Even if mental health issues are not caused by cyberbullying itself, they are still worsened by it.

No matter the case, there is no benefit to online bullying, especially for those targeted by others.

These damaging consequences require immediate action as usage of these sites continues to rise.

Social media sites play an incredibly significant role in the adolescents’ lives, which

affects their attitudes towards cyberbullying. To demonstrate, Michael Brody, a doctor of

adolescent psychiatry, explores the idea by explaining, “...for most teenagers these sites can

function as a public interactive journal or diary — as a way to organize and develop thoughts and

feelings and gain personal feedback. Blogs allow the youth to experiment with different

identities, disclose their inner selves, share universal fears and concerns, and most importantly,

connect in a detached manner” (Brody 8). Young people use social media, including “blogs,” as

an outlet and a way to deeply connect with others. They are able to do this in a way that is

“detached”, meaning that it becomes easier for them to share their feelings without being face-to-

face with others. The idea contributes to the quantity of bullying occurring online as the

perpetrator is given courage behind a screen. Additionally, it shows that teens rely heavily on

social media, providing a reason they may hesitate to speak out against abuse they experience or

witness: they are afraid of being exploited or being monitored by an adult if they report the
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incident. These circumstances demonstrate the need for policy change to keep them safe online.

Moreover, Dr. Brody’s explanation of teen technology use is supported by Danah Boyd,

researcher of the relationship between society and technology, who states, “Teen ‘addiction’ to

social media is a new extension of typical human engagement. Their use of social media as their

primary site of sociality is most often a byproduct of cultural dynamics that have nothing to do

with technology, including parental restrictions and highly scheduled lives” (Boyd 80). Boyd

suggests that teenagers are not willing to give up technology because it keeps them in touch with

friends and allows them to stay up to date on their lives instantaneously, but still in a way that is

meaningful. Their dependence suggests a need for social media sites to remain safe for children

and teens via stricter legislation against cyberbullying. Furthermore, Dr. Shaheen Shariff at

Stanford Law School (“Shaheen Shariff”) rationalizes that most teens do not report online

bullying because they fear that they themselves will be bullied, adults they report to will not do

anything about the issue, and their parents will monitor and restrict their online access to protect

them from the problem (Large et al. 198). Cyberbullying continues in part to occur because of

how essential social networking sites are to the relationships of teens, who often endure the

conditions to partake in social media’s benefits or because they do not realize how toxic the

environment may be. It is very unlikely that social media usage will stop; therefore, it is

necessary to address online bullying by long-lasting means. Laws restricting internet harassment

will discourage teens from engaging in the phenomenon without putting the pressure on victims

and bystanders to speak out against the issue.

Furthermore, cyberbullying persists because of the anonymity that social media provides,

which leads teens to feel as if their actions online will not be met with consequences. Chan et al.,

who study technology use, argue that stricter laws would discourage teens from engaging in
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bullying on social media sites as it would give them greater possible consequences (Chan et al.

599). The authors argue in favor of providing teenagers online with a stricter authority figure in

the form of laws and regulations; they believe that this is the best solution to combat the online

harassment of others. In addition, cyberbullies often feel detached from the victim they are

attacking because of the disconnect provided by social media; teenagers feel more comfortable

behind a screen, as Michael Brody pointed out. These sites also make it easier for them to

conceal their identity online, which is supported by Barlett et al., whose research on

psychological studies indicates, “Aggressor-perceived anonymity was related to cyberbullying

behavior. Specifically, the more people feel that they are anonymous online, the more they are

likely to cyberbully others” (Barlett et al. 177). A person’s perceived ability to hide behind a

screen is what gives them the confidence to bully others online, which they most likely would

not do in real life. However, it is still possible for social media sites or law enforcement to locate

the individual responsible. Teens should be made more aware of this fact by creating specific

guidelines and policies to counteract cyberbullying. Additionally, the consequences they can face

should be more stringent. Kimberly Miller, researcher at the University of Southern California

Gould School of Law, further discusses anonymity by explaining, “If a cyberbully doesn’t have

to witness the victim’s reaction, the cyberbully doesn’t necessarily have to feel the guilt that

might accompany direct physical bullying behavior. Because of the physical distance between

the aggressor and the target, the bully may be more inclined to feel as if his actions have no

consequences at all” (Miller 383). The detachment created by social networking sites makes it

easier to act maliciously towards others, perhaps without realizing the action has any effect or is

deserving of any negative consequence. However, the distance does not prevent adverse impacts

on the recipient, and harassment likely continues in real life, which must be mitigated. The best
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way to do this is to put stricter laws in place that enforce consequences to these behaviors and,

furthermore, make sure teens are aware of this. Having specified legal ramifications in place can

assist in decreasing the sense of anonymity if youth know their actions can have repercussions.

While legislation is a strong solution, the argument stands that it is not necessary as

parents should be responsible for monitoring their children online; most children and guardians

believe parent involvement to be the principal form of cyberbullying prevention (Mehari et al.

620). However, the supervision of teens on social media brings many issues. Hannah Choo

explains in the University of New Brunswick Law Journal that online supervision only serves as

a coping mechanism for parents and merely teaches children to hide their online activity (Choo

58). She calls online monitoring a “coping mechanism” because it purely gives parents some

momentary control over fears of their kids experiencing cyberbullying. This solution is not

beneficial to teens long-term; she suggests that parents should instead focus on creating a trusting

relationship with their teenagers so that they feel safe coming to them with issues they may face.

This connection is something that will help adolescents long-term, unlike online restriction. The

14th Dalai Lama, Buddhist spiritual leader (“Brief Biography”), supports the philosophical idea

of valuing long-term solutions over temporary ones by saying, “Now if we look at today’s

materialistic life people seem mainly concerned with sensory experiences. So that’s why their

satisfaction is very limited and brief, since their experience of happiness is so dependent on

external stimuli” (Gyatso et al. 53). He discourages basing satisfaction based on short-term

stimulants, which can be compared to the online supervision of teens. Monitoring adolescents

gives parents a sense of control and safety, while not allowing teens to connect with others or

learn to navigate significant issues themselves. Limiting their time online gives them a social

barrier with their peers, but also affects their relationship with their parents. Researchers at
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Simon Fraser University demonstrate a disconnected relationship by stating, “Although 32% of

these parents’ children reported being victims of cyberbullying and 36% reported participating in

cyberbullying, only 11% of parents reported that their child had been a victim and less than 1% a

cyberbully” (Cassidy et al. 18). These teens felt that they could not tell their parents about the

issue for various possible reasons, suggesting a lack of trust between the two. Therefore, relying

on parents to handle cyberbullying is not a viable option; legislation remains the best solution

because it will make the most long-term difference.

The lasting psychological effects caused by cyberbullying, the continuance of teenage

presence on social media, and the lack of authority and consequences online require stricter

online security policies to be enacted in the U.S. The large-scale effects of cyberbullying persist

as more youth gain access to such technologies. Unfortunately, the scale will grow if the problem

is not addressed, which is in part due to the sense of anonymity granted by social media sites.

Considering that teens mostly use social media for connection and communication, it is

important to give acts such as online harassment more weight via legislation; online

environments must be kept safe. Despite any possible opposition, laws must be enacted in the

U.S. that give consequences to online bullying, the sharing of intimate images, and other cruel

acts online. Federal policies have been enacted already in countries such as Canada, whose

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act of 2015 succeeded in implementing increased

consequences and gave courts more power in protecting cyber victims (“Protecting Canadians

from Online Crime Act”). Following Canada’s example in the U.S. will discourage teenagers

from engaging in unkind behaviors and help keep their online spaces safe. If action is not taken

now, it is expected that cyberbullying will only worsen, putting the future generation at great risk

of decreased life satisfaction and several mental health issues.

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Total word count: 2196

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Works Cited

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doi:10.1037/ppm0000055. Accessed 19 Mar. 2020.

Boyd, Danah. It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. Yale University Press,

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Brody, Michael. “Understanding Teens in This Age of Digital Technology.” Brown University

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Choo, Hannah E. Y. “Why We Are Still Searching for Solutions to Cyberbullying: An Analysis

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