Last week there was a case of two high school students (in Falcon, Colorado-District 49), who were harassing and bullying students on Facebook. The boys are facing harassment charges from a Facebook page they created called “Falcon Problems” and being charged with class-three misdemeanor harassment.
Lieutenant Jeff Kramer says, “Sometimes I think people mistakenly think hey if my communications stay electronic it’s not quite so bad.” But online threats can be considered just as serious as threats made in person. Founder of nationwide anti-bullying group Safe2Tell, Susan Payne, says, “We certainly see a trend in the use of social media regarding bullying, harassment, threats.” She adds, “A lot of damage, emotional and social and legal damage can be caused.” Falcon school District 49 may take additional action against the students responsible for the “Falcon Problems” page after the sheriff’s office complete its investigation.
Just “…kids being kids”??
Now, some parents came out and defended the students, saying it was just a joke or “kids just being kids”, and don’t believe there should be any action taken against the students. Which makes me wonder, “What Do YOU Think?”
Okay to lie?
You know, just last week I had someone ask me how old I thought children should be before they could have a Facebook page. At the time, I didn’t even know that Facebook has an age requirement of 13. Once I stared researching “underage” children with Facebook pages I was pretty shocked to discover that in a recent survey, 95% of parents with children who have their own Facebook page under the age of 13 (which is the LEGAL requirement), knew their children had the page and 78% of the parents actually helped create the page. Hmmm. Now my own son is a grown man so this doesn’t pertain to me and maybe I’m just an older, “old-fashioned” woman but, isn’t this teaching your child that it’s okay to lie or break the rules?
Maybe it’s just that I am from a “different” generation? I actually talked to a parent of an 11-year old who does have his own Facebook page. His mother told me that all his friends had one and if she didn’t help her own son have his, he’d go behind her back and do it anyway. When I was younger, and went behind my parent’s back and did something I wasn’t suppose to, I got grounded. But again, maybe I’m “behind the times.”
With bullying, sexual predators, and not knowing who the person actually is behind a Facebook page, it seems that you actually help put your child at risk when they are younger. And what about adult “friends” who friend a child and use language and talk about things that aren’t suitable for younger children?
So my question is….what do you think? Should Facebook bullying have consequences and do you think it’s ok to “fib” so children under 13 can have a Facebook page?
I’m going to take first-crack at this one, because I am VERY passionate about this topic:
Parent’s who bully raise bullies. It’s a learned and condoned behavior. The only reason anyone would think that bullying is just “kids being kids” was because they were a bully themselves. NO ONE who was bullied thinks that it was an acceptable part of growing up.
I hate bullies.
Oh, AND any parent who would knowingly lets their kiddo have a Facebook profile under 13 is the exact same kind of parent that buys alcohol for minors. They want to be “cool”, and “friends” more than parent their kids. It’s lazy, it’s irresponsible, and it’s pathetic.
I don’t care if my kid isn’t “cool” because they don’t have a Facebook profile. There are worse things in this world than being “uncool”.
Thanks for getting me a riled up this morning, Tammy.
Before I even read your last sentence, I thought, whoa, this riled Trig up! Glad to hear from a dad.
Kids have been “kids” for a millenia, but the time has been long overdue to stop the cycle. And it’s going to take some time… We have to teach compassion, not survival. We have to get the parents and kids off the zombie boxes and interacting. We need to have accountability. Cruelty is a far too common trait in our world…let’s start by wishing peace for those WHO bully (what are they being taught?) and those who are BULLIED.
Facebook bullying is bullying. And the consequences should be swift and serious. The word “bullying” doesn’t even begin to capture the damage that is done.
Regarding underage kids with FB pages, I happen to believe that an arbitrary age limit is probably not the best way to handle it. Some kids are mature enough and have good judgment at 11, others don’t at 17. I’d like to see parental authorization required, and children’s pages being fully open to the parent(s) who authorized them so that parents can monitor who is communicating with their child. I know that would (a) require *active* parenting, and (b) run up against “privacy” concerns – but honestly, we’re talking about kids and privacy needs to be earned, as well as requiring FB itself to be much better managed, so I’m not exactly holding my breath in anticipation of any of that happening 😉
Teresa…EXCELLENT points! You are right about kids maturing at different ages.
I think it’s even worse with social media. I was bullied in high school (friends that decided I was no longer “cool”) and teased, tormented and berated on a daily basis. However, the one solace was once I went home IT STOPPED. Now there is no end – they are bullied all day at school, then come home to face texts, tweets and FB bullying as well.
It’s not kids being kids – it’s just mean – but I don’t think these kids should be subject to criminal charges or anything like that. Because – hopefully – they will grow out of this and become productive adults someday. A criminal charge will follow them.
FB is supposed to be for 13 and over – I personally think even 13 is too young. There are predators out there waiting to prey on young kids – and 13 year olds – mature or not – are still just children with under developed brains – they don’t make the best choices. 🙂
Kim..Thanks for the comment! Good points. I just saw a teenager on the news who said something very similar. She said when she was bullied at school, it was over when she got home. Being bullied online (she said) was even worse. And predators….I keep thinking of how ADULTS can be fooled or tricked, which makes kids even more vulnerable.