HUNTINGTON, NY—"It makes me feel bad and rather depressed. Like I don’t want to be a part of this world any more," is how one 14-year-old girl from New York expressed what being cyberbullied made her feel like. Her posting is just one of dozens of similarly anonymous messages left on the Cyberbullying Research Center’s website. In the face of cyberbullying legislation stalled in Albany, Suffolk County Legislative Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) filed a bill today that would criminalize this form of despicable, high-tech harassment of children.
As yet another inauspicious distinction for state lawmakers, according to the Anti-Defamation League, New York is one of only 11 states that does not have any anti-bullying statute in place.
With the click of a button, cyberbullies inundate the objects of their ridicule with abusive postings and texts, which can be sent out to virtually everyone the victims know. “The victims emotionally drown in a deluge of humiliation, anguish and hopelessness,” Cooper stated. “We simply can’t wait any longer for Albany to get its act together on this issue. That’s why I’m acting now by introducing this bill.”
Cooper’s legislation defines cyberbullying, in part, as repeatedly committing acts of abusive behavior (such as taunting, threatening, insulting, tormenting, humiliating) communicated over a period of time. This includes information sent or posted by mechanical or electronic means and statements posted on the internet. His law would criminalize these acts only when committed against minors under the age of 18. Those convicted would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and could face up to a year in jail.
“I’ve always been a big technology fan, but one of the challenges facing public officials is keeping up with the problems that emerging tools can create,” said Cooper. “It’s the reason why 10 years ago I pushed for the ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving, the reason why last year I sought to place common-sense restrictions on electronic cigarettes and the reason why I now want cyberbullying to be criminalized.”
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