There’s been a sharp drop in children’s bullying, according to a new national survey by experts, who believe that the decline is due to anti-bullying programs. The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that the percentage of children who reported being physically bullied declined from nearly 22 percent in 2003 to under 15 percent in 2008.
Since bullying is seen as the foundation on which subsequent aggressive behavior is built, the study is heartening. But if the report focused on physical violence and victimization, maybe bullying has morphed into a more sophisticated, technological form, in the cyber realm? Take the case of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, Mass., who died of an apparent suicide after incessant bullying, much of which took place through harassing photos on Facebook and taunting text messages. Cyber bullying isn’t about stick and stones, but a more intangible – and just as hurtful – abuse. A new proposal before the Massachusetts Senate cracks down not just on old-style bullying, but also Internet bullying, prohibiting the use of hostile e-mails, text messages, and Internet postings.
My son, Ken, who is 18, says that although he thinks there’s less face-to-face bullying, FB taunting and revenge is fierce – especially among girls. “Girls in particular seem to use the Internet for bullying – I don’t know why,” says Ken.
Could it be because many girls aren’t going to engage in fist fighting – instead, they tend toward “relational bullying.” This could be their chance to vent their frustration and relieve feelings of inadequacy. Instead of passing notes, texting has become the M.O., and there’s less chance of getting caught. And listen up parents: Both guys and girls need to be taught new skills to deal with this new venue for bullying, whether sender or receiver.
Thank god FB wasn’t around when I was a kid. There were some benefits to growing up as a young baby boomer – even if I didn’t have an iPhone.
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Interested in reading more about bullying? Check out “Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls” by Rachel Simon or the resources below:
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