Skip to content

Reply to comment

Let's Keep Some Perspective

February 20, 2006 by logicnazi@gmail.com (not verified), 3 years 39 weeks ago
Comment id: 1460

Sure, I suppose teens could get 'cyberbullied' (though I'm not entierly sure what that means) or even attract inappropriate interest but this sort of concern ignores the real dangers.

Teens are much more likely to get bullied by people at school and adults don't do much about it. If you care about teenagers getting bullied do something about the 'it's all in good fun' or 'you need to learn to handle your own conflicts' attitudes that still prevade our schools. Worrying about cyberbulling is just a way for parents and educators to feel good about themseleves (they are doing something) without having to confront the tough issues that our society still looks with approval on popular jocks making fun of nerds.

The same thing can be said about the danger of 'inappropriate interest.' Focusing on the internet is really just a way for parents to convince themselves the problem isn't in their communities but comes from the 'outside.' It is just like the stranger danger campaign which persisted despite the fact that the vast majority of abuse and abduction is not a result of strangers. People don't want to think that someone in their community could be a bad guy but that is where the real danger lies.

Hopefully most teens can turn down anonymous sexual solicitations the real danger comes from people they know.

Reply



About us

Science Blog was started in August 2002. It lives, breathes and eats press releases from research organizations around the globe. Most of what you read here are press releases from the outfits named in the stories themselves. Got a news story you think belongs here? Let's talk. The other half of the equation is blog posts from readers like you. So if you have an interest in science, please register and join others like you in an ongoing, vibrant dialog about what makes the world tick. Meantime, please take a minute to read our Privacy Policy and Site Disclaimer.