Legal Cases involving Cyberbullying
Logan v. Sycamore Community School
This case is about a girl who committed suicide after a nude picture of her was "sexted" between some students. She sued several parties, but most of them settled before going to trial or were dismissed. This case is primarily against a police officer who encouraged the girl to go on a tv interview to talk about "sexting" prior to committing suicide. The parents claim that appearing on the show increased the harassment and led to her suicide. The court concluded that the officer (Payne) was immune under qualified immunity because his actions of telling the girl about the interview did not "increase the risk of harm" to the girl. The case also says that discovery (a process of fact gathering prior to going to trial) would continue for the Defendant School Board regarding its policies and actions in regard to "sexting". [More than likely it is still in litigation].
Logan v. Sycamore Community School Bd. of Educ., F.Supp.2d, 2011 3882559 (S.D.Ohio)
D.D. v. R.R.
In this cyberbullying case, D.C., a 15 year old student, and his parents brought a hate crime, defamation, and other claims against another student, R.R., and his parents concerning the posting of threatening and derogatory comments on the student, D.C.'s, web page. One comment referred to R.R.'s desire to "pound your head in with an ice pick". The court denied the special motion to strike under California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16. The Court of Appeal found that the defendants statements were true threats and were not protected speech and not a public issue. This case demonstrates that some instances of cyber bullying may not necessarily be protected under Freedom of Speech.
D.C. v. R.R., 182 Cal. App. 4th 1190 (2010)
NOTE: These cases are brief examples of public cases involving cyber bullying. The rulings and cases do not apply everywhere, they only apply in the jurisdiction in which the proceedings occurred. These are merely examples of legal contexts in which the issue of cyberbullying may arise in the course of a lawsuit. These are for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
What are the emotional consequences of Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying produces many negative emotions in the victims and can lead to potentially more delinquent behaviors both at home and school. According to Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D. and Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. at the Cyberbullying Research Center, cyberbullying can result in frustration, anger, sadness, and even depression amongst victims. The students they studied were males and females in elementary, middle, and high school. Hinduja and Patchin report that a study of 3,000 students revealed that of students who were cyberbullied 38% felt vengeful, 37% felt angry, and 24% felt helpless. Victims of cyberbullying do expereince significant emotional changes as a result of syberbullying which can lead these students to retaliate or want to commit suicide.
The General Strain Theory of Robert Agnew, cited by these authors, indicates that the strain resulting from victimization can result in deviant behaviors. The anger, frustration, and depression caused by the different types of strain on victims can result in negative choices. Cyberbullying is a problem that has many serious emotional consequences for students and may lead to more delinquency or violence.
http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_emotional_consequences.pdf
The General Strain Theory of Robert Agnew, cited by these authors, indicates that the strain resulting from victimization can result in deviant behaviors. The anger, frustration, and depression caused by the different types of strain on victims can result in negative choices. Cyberbullying is a problem that has many serious emotional consequences for students and may lead to more delinquency or violence.
http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_emotional_consequences.pdf
http://www.cyberbullying.us/2007_charts/cyberbullying_how_victims_felt_2007.JPG
When separated by gender, both boys and girls are likely to feel angry, sad, and embarrassed as a result of cyberbullying. Slightly more girls than boys feel frustrated and angry, while significantly more boys are scared as a result of cyberbullying.
When separated by gender, both boys and girls are likely to feel angry, sad, and embarrassed as a result of cyberbullying. Slightly more girls than boys feel frustrated and angry, while significantly more boys are scared as a result of cyberbullying.