The reasons why students commit violence and cyberbullying
In this day and age, bullying and violence are prevalent in schools. Knowing why they commit bullying and violence is important, as it can lead to some solutions. There are many reasons for their violence, but I am going to point out a few.
1. Access to weapons
In the past, there was a dramatic increase in teenage gun violence in the United States. They acquired weapons, which extremely raised deaths and injuries. So, although legal sanctions are imposed, there are still many youths who still possess weapons illegally. According to one research, 42% of students said they could get a weapon if they wanted. The reason they can gain weapons is that the families of most teenagers keep weapons at home. They also witness acts of violence on social media or TV. This is a way to make society more violent. This has been proven in various studies and requires special solutions.
2. Exposure to game violence and cyber abuse
Since the 1990s, the Internet and smartphones have made tremendous progress and started to erode the safety of schools. With the development of cyber technology, violent games and videos have become popular. Ohio State researchers found that children exposed to violent video games were more hostile and violent. Smartphones have also made it easier for them to insult or threaten each other, allowing them to engage in violence without meeting.
3. Environmental impact
Race, ethnicity, and income level are also risk factors that can contribute to suicide and violent behavior, such as smoking and drinking. The behavior of young people is vital because they are strongly influenced by their schools, family relationships, and communities. According to a survey conducted by the International Institute for Children, over 50% believe that schools are becoming more violent. If there are many gangs in the area where a student lives, they may be victimized by gangs or be unable to escape their temptations. School violence is linked to changes in the community. The ever-changing society requires great attention from families (Constitution Rights foundation 2021).
Various cases of bullying and cyberbullying in Korea and the world
Violence and cyberbullying are rampant around the world. There are some examples. The first example is when a person who engages in violence through social media posts hurt or painful thoughts about someone he does not like on social network sites, such as Facebook or Instagram, where everyone can see it. This violence has driven victims to suicide, and it persists. We need a good way to get rid of this cyberbullying.
The second case is the betrayal of friendship. A new study finds that children are more likely to be bullied by their own friends than other children they do not know. In some cases, the perpetrator teases the victim from behind and severely humiliates them. Without knowing this fact, the victim enjoys going to school and listening to others’ gossip. Then the victim realizes that all these rumors and thinks about what they can do, but they can only watch all behaviors. The perpetrators need to empathize with victims and must consider how they would feel if their victims were in their shoes (National PTA 2021).
Some solutions to eliminate school violence
Many young people think that their violent behavior is acceptable because they do not have a proper education and feel they should not be accountable for violence. Several solutions can assist in breaking this vicious cycle.
- Parents should have time to talk to their children about respect and bullying at home. Even if many children have talked about bullying with their parents in the past, it is very essential to remind them so that they treat their classmates with respect at school. Families should take some time to focus on educating their children about hurtful words and their effects, allowing them to actively discuss them.
- Parents should set clear rules and restrictions for their children. We must ensure that children know what to expect and what the consequences will be followed if they do not observe the set lines. When setting these rules, children understand the purpose of the rules, and it should be done consistently. Parents need to show their children how to take responsibility, develop empathy for others, and manage stress through their actions.
- Parents should try to influence legislation in their area. Parents may write editorials in local newspapers or make a petition and send their opinions to legislators, this can be a great way to voice their opinions about the community’s violence prevention program and gain support from decision-makers. If we hope for children to have a safe and excellent education, we must take action that can influence local, state, and federal legislation and decisions. (CYBERBULLYING RESEARCH CENTER 2021).
Conclusion
Bullying and cyberbullying at schools have been a global issue, and it is high time that we ended it. School violence can be eliminated through various solutions, and many people need attention. For a happy future, the government must strengthen legal sanctions against school violence, and companies must help prevent this violence by developing great technologies, such as better CCTV, from a technical point of view.
References
Constitutional Rights Foundation. (2021). Causes of School Violence. Available: https://www.crf-usa.org/school-violence/causes-of-school-violence.html. Last accessed 09th December 2021.
National PTA. (2021). 10 Things You Can Do to Prevent Violence in Your School Community. Available: https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/safety/School-Safety/Checklist-to-Help-Prevent-Violence-in-Schools. Last accessed 09th December 2021.
CYBERBULLYING RESEARCH CENTER. (2021). Share Your Cyberbullying Story. Available: https://cyberbullying.org/stories. Last accessed 09th December 2021.
