Summary of Article
This is an article from the Guardian newspaper published on the 1ST of August 2011. The subject of this article is cyber bullying and the impact it has on young people. The article is reflecting on research done by academics at Anglia Ruskin University. What is important to note is that the statistics are relevant to English teens and not Irish ones, but I’m sure they’re in close correspondence with Irish figures. The article states their findings.
The article is structured using short punchy lines which give a dramatic effect. The article opens with the statement “Nearly one in five UK youngsters have been the victim of cyber bullying, with girls affected more than boys, research suggests” and follows with the research to support the statement. The journalist goes on to tell us that the information is based on a study carried out on 500 young people aged between eleven and nineteen.
These specific researchers found that a fifth of the participants they carried out research on admitted that they had been subjected to cyber bullying by the use of internet or mobile phones. What I found interesting was that findings also suggested that females are a more likely target to cyber bullying. In this particular research 273 females were questioned and of those questioned 60 said they had been subjected to cyber-bullying. Of the males questioned (200) only 27 admitted that they had been subjected to cyberbullying.The journalist goes on to tell us that 66% of participants admitted to having seen or known someone who had been cyber bullied.
The article then begins to focus on the young people who had been, themselves affected by cyber bullying . The victims were asked what the impact of cyber bullying had been on them, with results showing one third replying it affected their confidence “quite a lot” or “very much”. 52% of these 87 victims claimed it had an effect on both their emotional and mental wellbeing. The journalist then informs the reader that of the victims just over a quarter had admitted to staying away from school and more than a third had stopped socialising outside school.
Of the victims less than 55% would not look for finding help with the reasons being they were afraid it would make the situation worse.
The conclusion at the end of the research form head researcher Steve Walker "While most online interactions are neutral or positive, the internet provides a new means through which children and young people are bullied."…Way to state the obvious Steve.
For me the facts in the article didn’t come as a surprise, sad but believable. As a person within the 11-19 age group I’m not surprised having personally witnessed cyber bullying on social networks on numerous occasions. For me the article only confirmed what I thought. In my opinion the article is a bit sensationalised and over dramatic, the ending lacks insight. The researcher should in my opinion end with insightful and reflective thoughts on his research but instead he points out the obvious.
Fascinating article there, dear Aoife. Job well done, must discuss on Monday.
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