Cyberbullying, Violence & Harassment: The Dark Side of Technology

The rise in technological advancement has increased communication and connectedness in the current generation. However, there is a dark side to this advancement. Technology is not only a hub for cyberbullying, especially for teenagers but also, given room for increased violence and harassment stories. Studies indicate that 50% of teenagers in the United States have at one point been harassed online (Mitchell,et al, 2016). Technology has significantly altered the calculus behind predatory behavioral patterns in the U.S through increased social alienations, especially those associated with cyber bullying violence against adolescents and teenagers.

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Cyberbullying is the most common type of online harassment reported among teenagers who actively use digital technology. The social control theory by Travis Hirschi's views institutions in the society as the most significant sources of crime as a result of them losing control over individuals (Hirschi, 2017). According to social control theory, week institutions such as family dysfunctions are linked to higher crime rates. Gang membership in LA county is as a result of the effects of family dysfunctions, which results from bad parent-children relationship. Unfortunately, the major push of broken links among families is technology (Hirschi, 2017). Modern technology has not only managed to increase the rift between parents and children but also led to predatory behaviors such as school shootings that result from too much time spent on inappropriate video games and on social media where most of them face harassment and bullying.

The media can not only play a role in intensifying shooting in schools but also help in reducing these incidences. Sadly, the media has played a role in increased violence through intense focus on such occurrences and making the perpetrators achieve the fame they seek. However, for effective intervention and prevention of teenage predatory crimes in Los Angeles, it is the responsibility of schools, parents and the media to offer to teach on social and emotional skills which help improve teenager's social interaction (Garett, Lord, & Young, 2016). Additionally, these technologies should be used to assist in identifying the students facing challenges.

To conclude, the intensive use of technology among teenagers has led to family dysfunctions because it limits their ability to communicate with parents. According to Travis Hirschi's, Social Control Theory (1969), such rifts in the family are the major causes of crime in communities. It is the responsibility of all societal institution to protect teenagers from such sites that lead to aggressive behaviors.

References

Garett, R., Lord, L. R., & Young, S. D. (2016). Associations between social media and cyberbullying: a review of the literature. Mhealth, 2.Rerieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5344141/Hirschi, T. (2017). On the compatibility of rational choice and social control theories of crime. In The reasoning criminal (pp. 105-118). Routledge.Mitchell, K. J., Jones, L. M., Turner, H. A., Shattuck, A., & Wolak, J. (2016). The role of technology in peer harassment: Does it amplify harm for youth?. Psychology of violence, 6(2), 193. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/vio-a0039317.pdf