14 October 2010

Follow-up on bullying...

So... Sabra posits her theory here. And it got me thinking (never a good thing)...

How much of a role has "social networking" played in these problems? Seems that every time one of these cases hits the news, we hear about all the abuse folks are getting via Facebook/Myspace/Youtube etc. Is that really adding that much to it?

I do know that the current generation is changing the paradigm of relationships, largely on the availability of instant access into each-others' lives. "Facebook stalking" is an actual term, and the feeling I get from many is that kids really don't see anything wrong with it...

There's also the change in break-ups. Used to be, one breaks up with someone, and they would have to make some effort to contact/keep tabs on their ex. Now, your ex knows exactly what you're doing most of the time, just by pulling out the leash in their pocket and checking a networking site (there's a reason I have never turned Facebook on on my Android, or any other phone I've owned). Today's generation seems completely linked into each others' lives, and often almost unable to separate out of it...

Not sure what the solution is, even if there is one. But the first step (regardless) is acknowledging that there IS an issue. We can't start figuring out the parameters of it until we recognize that it's there...

1 comment:

Sabra said...

I have a lot of mama friends with kids around 8 to 10 years old who have Facebook pages. Or who are contemplating caving to pressure 'cause all of their kids' friends have Facebook pages. Mind you, site guidelines say not until age 13. So there's one starting point for you. Things like this definitely make bullying easier.

I think we have to realize it is a problem and get parents to realize that they are sometimes enabling their child's victimization.