Technology
Younger Children Falling Victim to Online Bullying
[Los Angeles Times]
It seems to happen often enough that we’re no longer shocked to hear it: A teenager commits suicide after being bullied online by peers.
But the recent death in Florida of 12-year-old Rebecca Ann Sedwick and arrest of two of her former middle school classmates makes it clear that victims are getting younger and bullies more brazen online.
Two girls, 12 and 14, have been charged with felony aggravated stalking based on evidence of a year of online taunts and threats. Sheriff’s deputies confiscated the cellphones and laptops of more than a dozen girls accused of bullying Rebecca and found messages such as “You should die.”
This may be the first time children have been accused of a crime in connection with suicide.
