Forms of cyber-
harassment include
text messaging and
web postings


By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Tens of thousands of children are bullied, stalked and harassed online each year, yet the trend to network by text messaging and in virtual communities such as Facebook and MySpace continues to soar.

But there is a downside to the convenience of the technology.

“Cyberstakling” or “Cyberbullying” can be carried out through various avenues including e-mail, web sites, text messages, cell phones, video, blog postings or any other form of electronic communication.

And it can have devastating consequences.

Such was the case when 17 year-old Rachael Neblett, a student at Kentucky’s Bullitt East High School committed suicide after being sent threatening messages on her MySpace account by a fellow student.

Neblett endured the torment for six months without telling anyone.

By the time her parents learned of what was occurring, Neblett had spiraled downward into a world of torment and fear she saw no escape from. On October 9, 2006, she took her own life.

Six days later, Missouri teen Megan Meier hung herself after being the target of similar types of online harassment.

And things like that aren’t just happening in other places. Cyber harassment is taking place every day, right here in Marshall County.

Local teens having Facebook and MySpace web pages often use their accounts to taunt, tease and humiliate fellow students.

Chat dialogues between students are sometimes aimed at alienating an individual, creating a vicious circle of publicly viewed torment and humiliation.

It’s an issue school officials are keeping a close watch on.

Marshall County School Superintendent Trent Lovett said, “What we are seeing is that problems surfacing in school are often starting online.”

Lovett said children are not as afraid to say what they think in these situations, causing an escalation in emotion when they find themselves face-to-face.

“While many of these conflicts are starting at home, they are often “finished” so to speak, at school.

Lovett said he feels these types of publicly displayed conversations can definitely cause turmoil among students, especially in the middle schools.

“Students at that age are more apt to do a lot of name calling,” he said. “However, physical altercations result far less in that age group – it’s mostly verbal.”

Amidst growing concern over the issue, the board of education has recently implemented a new policy relating to harassing communication, bullying and hazing.

It states in part, “...students must learn to respect the rights of others and to interact with them in a civil manner.”

Under the policy header, “Actions not tolerated,” it reads, “Students shall not engage in behaviors such as bullying, menacing, taunting, intimidating, verbal or physical abuse of others or other threatening behavior.

The policy includes the use of electronic devices (cell phones and text messaging devices) and online methods of communication.

And while school officials acknowledge they can’t address the actions of students at home, they say they certainly have the authority to intervene when the problems surface on campus.

Marshall County High School Principal Ricky Jones said, “If we are made aware that harassment, bullying or the hazing of any student is taking place, we have to report it to the appropriate authorities, we have no choice.”

Jones said an investigation typically ensues, which he said can be a “real mess” for parents. “We have even had some cases where charges were filed against the students involved,” he added.

But it’s not just locals who are concerned at the potential use of these latest technologies – the issue is also being address at the state level.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway recently authored HB 315 which is aimed at placing tougher internet restrictions on registered sex offenders and makes “cyberstalking” a Class D felony.

Cyberstalking is defined by the state as “any act that is intentionally alarming, annoying, intimidating or harassing a person with no legitimate purpose through electronic communication.”

This is something parents should take note of.

Just a quick glance at the pages of local Marshall County children reveals numerous incidences of what could now be considered to be criminal behavior, and cause for disciplinary action in school.

Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelly Drew warns parents and children to avoid using electronic communication as a means to resolve conflict.

“A person could be charged with harassing communications just by initiating one form of contact (including text messages, voice mail, E-mails, online posts, letters etc.) if it were to meet the statute criteria.”

If you suspect your child is being harassed online, Drew suggests attempting to make contact with the other chil(s) parents first. If you are unable to find resolve, then report the activity to the appropriate local law/school authorities.

The penalty for a class ‘D’ felony is one to five years.