I was searching around on CNN.com for something to right about for our last blog. I came across a title that read ‘Social Media Brings Bullying to Light’. I thought well that is fitting being that is what we have been talking about. I clicked on the link and was sick to my stomach about what I saw. I am some what of a wuss when it comes to seeing anything violent or sad AT ALL. It doesn’t matter to what degree or to whom I just can barely stand to keep my eyes on the computer screen long enough to watch what happens. Anyways, back to the video. It is a video taken with group of teens that were walking home from school one autumn day in September in Newark, Ohio. The girl in the pink hoodie with blue and blonde hair is Alexis Xanders. She was walking with her boyfriend, which they both consider themselves Emo, when they were approached by 6 to 10 other classmates. In the video you can see Alexis and her boyfriend trying to just walk away and ignore the other kids but they are continuing to harass and tug at her backpack all because Alexis made the comment that she didn’t like their favorite band Insane Clown Posse. In the background you can hear other kids saying “hit her” and “punch her”. I was cringing waiting for the moment when you saw the punch. It ended up not being as drastic as I thought but you can still clearly see Alexis get hit.
I can’t believe that such behavior actually exists. In my high school I didn’t see much bullying going on but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t I guess? The other thing that blows my mind is the fact that the bullying crowd video tapped such an action and thought that it was cool enough to post to MySpace. What on earth makes punching someone else in the face because they don’t like the same band as you cool?
The video tape ended up working in Alexis’s favor because the girl that actually recorded it sent to to her on MySpace. Alexis, wanting something to be done about it posted the video to YouTube and then to CNN’s iReport. A local news reporter says the video and alerted the local police. The 15-year-old suspect, whose name cannot be released because she is a minor was charged as a juvenile with individual counts of assault, menacing and unlawful restraint. The Licking County Prosecutor Ken Oswalt said he also confirmed they are looking into charging other people from the video for inciting the fight.
With out this video being posted to YouTube, MySpace, and CNN iReport Alexis would probably have never had the chance to confront the people that hit and bullied her that day. She is a minority of teens that are bullied and actually report what is being done to them. A lot of them don’t have the evidence as Alexis did and she only had that video because the bully’s thought that it was cool and wanted to post to show all their friends. Social Media is now being used for more reasons and purposes than a lot of us first think.
What a sad story. It's good to hear that the girl got charged with assault. It seems like bullying is taken so lightly and I don't think it should be. People who are violent as adolescents grow up to be violent as adults. I didn't see much violence in my school, either, except for verbal abuse. People talked behind each other's backs and name-called quite often. I think that comes with being in a small town. That shouldn't be an excuse, though. One kid got stuffed into a garbage can in my school and the teacher didn't do anything to the students who did it! Sad... Anyway, great blog! I also can't believe that stuff got onto MySpace.
ReplyDeleteAnnie -
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I have to admit that I've seen news stories or videos where kids have posted videos of fights. Personally, I think it's appauling, but at the same time, it does bring some justice for those involved. It actually brings the issue to our attention so that we can do something about it. Otherwise, so many kids would get hit or beat up, and no one would say anything about it. Posting it on the internet to be cool seems very low, but at least the girl did something about it.
When you think about it, social media is providing new ways to do just about everything. In this case, people can bully others by using social media or people can stop bullying with the use of social media. It is nice to hear that Alexis got the word out. But I can't help but wonder if she is suffering more bullying away from the public eye because she stood up for herself. For all we know, she could be receiving hateful messages right now from people who want to pick on her. Oh, how social media has complicated our world.
ReplyDeleteI have actually heard about this before. I agree, it's horrible, because people actually want to broadcast how they hurt someone. There have been some instances where I've lost my temper, but I would NEVER want those times posted on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the movie Never Back Down. It's a Fight-Club sort of movie, but there one boy in the movie who is filming every fight, often saying, "This will be great on YouTube!" or something along those lines. He even yells commands on what the fighting people should do at some points, as if he is "directing" the fight.
Also, the main character is only asked to fight because a video of him punching his coach went up on the internet.
It's weird, but that movie made me wonder if some of those fights would have been going on if there weren't video sharing sites.
I cannot believe that some children have the gall to video tape their “posse” ganging up on a single child. Where do these kids get the idea that you can solve things with violence? Oh right, that would be videogames and some action movies. Where do they come up with the crazy notion of videotaping their stupidity? Oh right, that comes from things like Jack Ass, the Movie.
ReplyDeleteI hate to be a downer here, but we are doing this to ourselves. By allowing filth onto the big screen and the TV screen, we are aiding in the destruction of what we as a society have for so long considered right and fair. Yes, of course I believe what happened to this girl is wrong, and it is great that social media is helping to catch some of these bullies, but the truth is that this shouldn’t be happening in the first place.