MySpace Cyberbullying incident produces tragic results
August 11th, 2008 by admin
The Internet has provided a new method of communication for young people from all over the world. For most, online social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are an opportunity to share feelings about music, movies, school and anything else that kids tend to talk about with one another when they congregate.
But as kids gain a greater mastery over the online tools at their disposal, more and more are using these technologically advanced sites, and major consumer software programs, for an insidious purpose – namely, cyberbullying.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying occurs when one or more individuals use the Internet to inflict psychological harm on another individual. This can occur in many forms, including: using social media techniques to spread hurtful or untrue information about another individual, creating fake identities and using them to manipulate others, posting unwanted photos of an individual, or doctoring photos of an individual using PhotoShop or other photo editing software programs.
The sad case of Megan Meier
Recently, cyberbullying made headlines when a 13-year old girl from Missouri named Megan Meier committed suicide in her bedroom inside her parent’s home. An investigation found that Megan’s death was likely caused due to stress over being the target of a cruel cyberbullying incident.
Megan developed a relationship on MySpace with an individual who she thought was a new boy in the area, but turned out to be a cabal of other individuals from the neighborhood, including adults such as Lori Drews (who’s 13-year old daughter was once friends with Megan, but had gotten into a fight with her) and an 18-year-old temporary office worker who worked for Drews.
The group created an elaborate hoax to make Megan believe that she had a burgeoning relationship with the boy. When the plot was revealed for all to see, Megan was unable to deal with the humiliation and took her own life.
The state of Missouri had no cyberbullying laws at the time of Megan’s suicide and was therefore unable to prosecute Lori Drews or any of the other parties involved. Federal prosecutors working in Los Angeles however, saw the case as a clear cut violation of the Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act and stepped in to bring Drews up on charges for violating the terms and conditions of her MySpace account. That case is currently pending.
Bullying and young girls
This sad case is unique in that it involved an adult at the helm who should have known better, but the act of bullying has been around as long as there have been children. And while many individuals associate bully-behavior with boys, some of the most devastating instances of bullying occur with girls. What makes girl-girl bullying so harmful is that the age in which it is most likely to occur, say twelve to eighteen years old, is the time in which young women-to-be are dealing with a number of challenging issues regarding their bodies and self-image. Exposing them to high levels of emotional stress, such as those coming from being the target of a cyberbullying incident, can yield unpredictable and often tragic results.
The ACLU gets involved
And this incident is far from over. Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has become involved in the case, concerned that in their haste to bring someone to justice for Megan Meier’s tragic death, Federal prosecutors will be setting a bad precedent, and that the door will open to prosecute (or investigate) anyone who innocently violates the terms and conditions of the websites they use. Like the federal case against Lori Drews, this case is pending as well.
Cyber bullying in the News | Video Update
Tags: Cyber Bullying, cyber bullying examples, Cyber Bullying Stories, facebook, myspace, social networks
August 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am
This situation is terrible, I can’t believe that an adult would act this way towards a kid. Parents need to be taking the Internet seriously and realizing the importance of talking with their kids about online situations.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
many girls don’t excuse for such a situation.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Life is tough for teenagers. I know because I was bullied in junior high and 2 years of high school. It can be awful and humiliating, especially when you find out that a group of other people are in on it. I just wish something could be done to prosecute the guilty.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
[...] interfere” with the education of the young person. Missouri The suicide of a 13-year old girl Megan Meier who was the victim of an internet hoax greatly raised the awareness of cyber bullying and its [...]
October 13th, 2008 at 8:52 am
[...] Megan Meier was a 13 year old from Missouri who struck up an online friendship on the popular social networking site MySpace with a person she believed was a new boy in her hometown. In actuality, the “friend” was a group of individuals, including adults, who were intent on humiliating the poor girl because of a friendship with another child that had gone awry. Megan was very upset when she found out the truth, then later committed suicide once the friendship had terminated. The horrifying case stunned the community and caused state government officials to pass some of the harshest cyber bullying laws in the country. Give your child the ability to report cyber bullying incidents instantly with CyberBully Alert Software. [...]
November 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
[...] though the bullying doesn’t take place on a one-on-one basis, MySpace cyber bullying and other forms of cyber bullying still show the same effects. Rather than just being bullied while [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 10:10 am
[...] separate profile just about bullying this particular person. Facebook cyber bullying is similar to MySpace cyber bullying because they can create fake identities or create a page with the sole purpose of bullying another [...]
November 26th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
“How can you violate something when you haven’t even read it?” Steward asked. “End of case.”
this is from the drew lawyer…… my God………….that’s whats wrong, stupidity end of case
November 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
As a parent raising a child I deeply believe in the importance of developing confidence in our children. I read somewhere “Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” We are becoming a society of finger pointers. Remember “sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me.”? Although people say hurtful things, it is vital to teach our children not to give other people that power over how we think about ourselelves. Especially not people that are hurtful.
Not teaching our children that they alone are responsible for their actions weakens our children, oursleves and our society. It is possible Megan (bless her heart) had confidence issues to begin with. Her mother, who admits in this video how heartless she was to her daughter when her daughter was hurting the most, might have been the catalyst. Who’s to say that didn’t push Megan over the edge? The Dad indicated that Megan had dealt with depression issues since the 3rd grade. Was she in counseling where she could learn some coping skills, or medication that might help if her mental makeup was indeed malfunctioning? I say, let the juvinile name calling cyberbullies live with what they did(especially the grown ups). What they did is mean. To punish them is to put a bandaid on a broken leg. There will be other insults and crude remarks, what are we going to do next? Outlaw dirty looks? Lets deal with this type of issue where we can make a difference. Develop our children’s emotional strength. It might just have to start with the parents developing their own strength. The Cyber bullies, didn’t kill Megan, Megan killed herself. The people involved in the cyberbullying are idiots, but to give them so much power over ones thoughts of ones and life, is….well…detrimental. Raise intelligent, strongminded, confident compassionate children. You won’t have to worry so much.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
would like a contact number for Megan Meier’s parents as we are wanting to fight against cyberbullying in our state. I have a daughter who became seriously depressed because of similar circumstances and yet there is no state law in SC.
Thanks Barbara Campbell
March 14th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
And people wonder why teenagers go “postal” in our schools as a result of bullying. Schools need to do more, and laws need to be put in place to stop the atrocities. Many schools don’t want to get involved in “bullying cases” - and it’s no wonder that some of the outcomes are tragic.
As with other comments on here, I was also bullied, and no one did anything - I had to repeat the seventh grade, because the school would not do anything, and I refused to be a punching bag for a pack of girls - so I can honestly relate to teens who decide to go postal. Its not the right answer, but it sure gets put on the table for an honest look our education institutions. Cybering should also be a crime - let’s just hope the Democrats can pass a few hard laws, to prevent future tragedies.
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
This is why, we should all just get along and properly treat mental illness. It’s not worth making someone so sad and mad that they commit suicide.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
This is such a sad story. I am so sorry for the parent’s loss. I don’t know how anyone could do such a horrible thing to another human being. I am bullied at my school too, and I hate it.
July 7th, 2009 at 1:52 am
that is sooo mean I think i know what she felt during depression cuz i got bullied in 5th (im in 6th) and no doubt i’ll be bullied in 6th because I slit my wrists repeatedly in 5th because my own friend were mean to me because i wear skin tight jeans, black tees of bands like hawthrone heights and silverstein, heavy eyeliner and blackhair with pink edges and 2 lip peircing and a eyebrow peircing. there mean to me cause i express my feelings………. yes i think u got the idea im emo…… >;(
July 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
The is the exact reason why i chose social networking as my topic for my computers topic i think the issue needs addressing to the parents so they know about the symptoms of depression maybe then her parents would of realized the emotional state there daughter was in and maybe this would of have prevented this tragedy.
Overall this is a very sad and depressing story and hopefully the family can cope with it. =(
July 28th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
i believe that those people how did that terrible thing should go to jail, because that poor girl probably did nothing to deserve what they did to her and that adult should have known better.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:56 am
this is a sad story i am researching this for a speech a truly sad story
October 30th, 2009 at 8:14 am
This woman has issues to even be acting so teen/kid like. What is wrong with people? Sad this little girl took her own life over this. It’s even worse some nut case goes online using harassment on people to get some feeling out of it. I am dealing with a nut adult who trolls online & bullies people via e-mail & posts. I mean get a life please & get help. Cowards !!!!!!!! Go pick on people your own size & age . This stuff just makes me mad. I know these people have forms of mental illness . I think to be honest net sites need to do ground checks on customers those with a bad/dangerous illness turn them down.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:16 am
This is the last thing we need is some crazy people ranting and bullying at other strangers online for no reason. If your kids are online watch who they are talking to & If you think something is wrong do background checks on these people they talk to. If you can’t find anything then most like there a fake/false person hiding themself and won’t let people track them.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I had to deal with a few nuts online not as bad as the one i’m dealing with now. Talk about some downright disgusting comments this dude is mental & I reported him nothing has been done due to the fact they prob. can’t track him cause he’s a internet troll with a number of accounts.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:22 am
No matter how hard the bully tries, he/she will never win!
BULLIES NEVER WIN! They are cowards hiding behind there own sad/cold feelings. I only had a few people I did not get along with no one did in school because they tryed to run there mouth & Be bullies instead they got picked on back & Relized it hurt and went & Told on people. If you don’t want stood up to or picked on back then think before you bully people……….
November 17th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I am 14 years old and even I know better. What that woman did was so outrageously immature that she should sit behind bars for the rest of her days. How childish of an adult…no, a MOTHER to sink to such a degrading level. I understand what her defense would be, “I didn’t know she would kill herself,”. Yes, but that woman was fully aware the the future is totally unpredictable and she had no control over Megan’s possible repricussionary actions. SHame on her. Perhaps her daughter should be taken from her so she ca nbe constantly reminded of how the poor Meier family feels because not only did they lose thier daughter, they lost thier whole everything. I pray for her family and wish to let them know that God is watching over Megan and plotting revenge on that evil woman.