There is no question that the Internet is used for a variety of good things. It’s used to obtain information, pay bills, find a special someone, share music files via Ares Galaxy and have endless hours of fun playing various online games. It’s become the accepted way that people communicate and handle their business matters. Still, with every bright spot the Internet has, there are dark features to it that cloud the true intent and purpose of the Internet. One of those things is the abuse and harassment of teenagers occurring on social media sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

Cyber bullying is no laughing matter. There have been several cases of cyber bullying, such as the cases involved Phoebe Prince and Megan Meier. In both instances these girls ended up committing suicide. In both cases there was a long history of harassment where cruel and hateful messages were exchanged. It was mean and thoughtless and it cost someone their life.

The issue lies in being able to know the difference. Today social media sites give kids the opportunity to do their humiliating in a very large, and public, forum. They are able to talk to harass and ridicule other students and neighborhood kids for their imperfections and their differences, and do it all with the click of the mouse button.

Of course there are kids who are able to struggle through, and the ridicule is brushed aside or dealt with in a relatively healthy way. However, there are a number of kids who don’t have the capacity to brush off the instant messages, wall postings, and electronic hate mail that seems to be constantly thrown at some kids.

The issue with the bullying that occurs online is that there isn’t a reliable, or fair enough, monitoring system to be stopping this before the result is tragic. It’s a growing problem and one that requires a solution. Until that solution is reached there is no telling what it will lead to.