Chat Time 35 - Cyber Bullying

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Questions

1. Is it acceptable to post comments online about celebrities’ appearance?
   The Internet provides a space of free thought and expression, but It is not acceptable to post negative comments online about the looks of celebrities in order to humiliate them. 

2. Is cyber bullying a serious cause for concern in Hong Kong?
   The trend of cyber bullying is on the rise and it has brought serious consequences. More than 60 percent of teenagers polled in Hong Kong have suffered cyber bullying. 

3. How can students deal with cyber bullying?
  Students should not put up with cyber bullying. They should keep reporting each and every bullying incident to a trusted adult, such as a family member, teacher, or school counselor.

Individual Response

1. What are the possible effects of cyber bullying on students?
   Cyberbullying can have an extremely negative impact on students. The victims are unwilling to attend school and receive poor grades. They have health problems and also thoughts about suicide.  

2. What are the pros and cons of making website operators identify users of their sites?
  When the website operators identify the cyber bullies, they can penalize the bullies or deter them from posting malicious material. But some people oppose it for privacy reasons. They also worry about misuse of the users’ personal information. 

3. Why do you think people use the Internet to bully others?
 Cyber bullies are often motivated by anger, revenge or frustration. Sometimes they do it for entertainment or getting a sense of satisfaction. Many do it for laughs or to get a reaction.

4. What can schools do to prevent cyber bullying?
  Schools should establish rules about appropriate use of computers, smart phones and other technology. They should also educate students the correct attitude towards the use of internet and to respect others in the web.

5. What advice would you give to someone being bullied online?
 I would advise him to block the bullies to stop them from communicating with him. Then he should talk to people he trusts. They can help him report the cyber bullying and give him more confidence to deal with the situation.