To the Editor:

How is the world changing? One big problem is people hurting other innocent feelings, not just physically, but mentally. The world is going downhill and not enough people are helping. I believe we can each make a difference by helping to fight cyber bullying. Parents need to monitor their children’s online activities, to be aware if the child is being bullied online, and then help stop it.

When a child is a victim of cyber bullying it can hurt the whole family, friends and his or her reputation and relationships. According to scientific surveys, there are about 15 to 35 percent of younger people getting cyber bullied. In "Girls Life," Apryl Lundsten states that some children who are being cyber bullied commit suicide because of how bad the comments are. They give their life up from threats and hurtful comments from their friends or even random children at school.

Many children get tricked on the Internet by a person they think they know. The strangers trick them into giving them personal information, such as their password and log-in identification. This means that the hacker can use the password to hack into their accounts. The hacker can write nasty comments that look like it came from that child on a website or another online activity. When the child is older and trying to get a job, the employer could see the comment and not hire that person. Cyber bullying is a serious matter and a horrible thing for people to even think about doing.

Everyone knows bullying is hurting people’s feelings, but they don’t know how serious it can get. It creates a lot of drama and many rumors. In my experience, everyone doesn’t forget about these rumors, and they talk about them online. A rumor or comment can't be erased. Whoever that rumor is about, he or she can’t stop it and knows that everyone else knows what that person supposedly did. A child can get psychological damage from threats and comments. It can end up to be a big mess with the child hurt emotionally and physically. When a child opens up a message and sees that it’s from their friend they get thrilled. Until, it’s not what they expect. It’s a rumor. It might say, “I know what you did and you can’t do anything about it. You’re horrible and I will never forget what you did. You better watch out.” He or she is paralyzed in fear and doesn’t understand. They feel powerless and believe they can’t do anything about it. They lose their hope.

Those kids’ parents should be the first responders to their children being bullied online and just watch their activities in general. On reputation.com it states that kids ages 8 to 18 years old spend seven-and-a-half hours watching TV or surfing the web in their spare time. If parents explain the rules and what the child can’t go on, no child will be hurt. The parents can even block websites where strangers can talk to their children. They will know what’s going on and will help stop it to save their children.

Say your child was talking to someone he or she has never met and thinks that person is so nice. He or she sends the person an address so they can hang out. That stranger is not really the same age and is now stalking the child on the Internet. Perhaps even going to their house. That stranger can wound the child. Many things happen on the Internet, including Internet stalking which is a form of cyber bullying.

Parents all over the world can help by saving their children and knowing that their children are safe and sound. Some parents don’t know these things and need to help, so I’m encouraging parents to help. They don’t realize cyber bullying can hurt their lives and others. It hurts kids' feelings and safety, but most of all parents need to help! Cyber bullying can be stopped and I know I will help. How about you?

Sincerely,

Lauren Cuzzola

Sixth Grade

Hillside Intermediate School