New Media Issue - Cyber Harrasment

Hi everyone !

the topic that today I am going to discuss is 
"New Media Issue - Cyber Harassment"

What is New Media Issue - Cyber Harassment

Picture sources: http://www.repbaker.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=18420

Cyber harassment is a criminal, it is the use of the internet to make unsolicited advances, communications or interactions with another person or entity.  A true definition of cyber harassment or cyber stalking does not yet exist due to the many forms it can take. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, one key point in defining and using the terms cyber harassment and cyber bullying is the perpetrator’s age. In most cases, the term cyber bullying refers to unsolicited communications or stalking activities between minors. The term cyber harassment is normally used when adults are involved.

The Cyber Harassment of Jessica Logam 

Pictures sources : http://www.gulli.com/news/11844-eltern-starten-klagereihe-wegen-sexting-nachrichten-2009-12-08

Jessica (Jesse) Logan, was a petite, blond-haired, blue-eyed Ohio high school senior who committed suicide after sexting a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend. When they broke up, he sent the photo to everyone else at her school. Jesse was cruelly harassed for months by the other girls at her school, who called her a slut and a whore. When Jessie’s grades dropped, she started skipping school and when she did go to school, she would hide in the bathroom to avoid being teased.

Jesse Logan decided to tell her story on a Cincinnati television station. Her purpose was simple: “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview was in May 2008. Two months later, on July 3, 2008, Jessie attended the funeral of a boy who committed suicide, then came home and killed herself.Her mother found her hanging in the closet with Jessie’s cell phone on the floor nearby.

The Cyber Harassment of Amanda Todd 

Picture sources: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/beautiful-little-losers/images/33333246/title/amanda-todd-photo

The story of Amanda Todd began just like all cyber bullying stories begin. Amanda was born in 1996 in British Columbia, Canada, and was a happy easy going person, until she was introduced to an anonymous person on Facebook who flattered her so much to the point of convincing her to flash her topless body to him. A year later, the same person or another anonymous person sent her the picture and it went viral, creating a mass of bullying and teasing to the point that she had to change schools several times. Her reputation was ruined, she had no friends, she was beaten up by some classmates, she tried drinking bleach but was saved at the last minute. Months later, Amanda Todd took her own life.

After her death, her YouTube video went viral to the point of reaching more than 17 million views. People were shocked when they learned about the Amanda Todd Story and reached out to her family. The authorities began a mass inquiry especially with the inspiration and the help of Amanda’s bullying video.  To the shock of everyone, the hate campaign continued online after Amanda’s passing, people ridiculed her suicide and made fun of the entire story, they even said she deserved what had happened to her. The cyber bullying continued despite appeals for people to see the real tragedy behind Amanda’s death. The famous Anonymous hacking group even went on amassive search to defend Amanda and find the person who tormented and blackmailed her online but the authorities did not see him as a person of interest in the case.

Tips To Protect Yourself From Cyber Harassment

1.Conduct an internet search using your name and phone number 

You must be sure that there is nothing out there that you are not aware of. A cyber stalker may have created a craigslist account, web page or blog about you. Only you can stay on top of how your name is being used online.

2. Password protect all accounts 

It is including cell phones, land lines, e-mails, banking and credit cards with a secure password that would  be difficult for anyone to guess. Change it every year. Your secret questions should not be easily answered either. Former VP candidate Sarah Palin's secret "reminder" questions were so easy to answer that a cyber stalker was easily able to gain access to her email accounts.  

3.Never give out your Social Security Number 
It is unless you are absolutely sure of who is asking for it and why. With your "social" as they call it in the business, a cyber stalker now has access to every part of your life.

   

Why I chosen this topic? 

The reason that I choose to discuss this topic(Cyber Harassment) is because nowadays the Cyber Harassment is become a very serious issue. The new media today is not only to change public in the positive way but also change the public in negative way. In our society nowadays, the most hardest issue for us to resolve is Cyber Harassment so that I chosen this topic to discuss in today and hope all of my readers can have more knowledge about this Cyber Harassment.

Reference :

http://nobullying.com/what-is-cyber-harassment/

http://womensissues.about.com/od/violenceagainstwomen/a/CyberPrevention.htm

http://www.puresight.com/Real-Life-Stories/jessica-logan-1990-2008.html#sthash.WQ3aN2U1.dpuf

http://nobullying.com/amanda-todd-story/

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