Online speech paragraph

Background: this paragraph was written for a DBQ (Document-based question) called "Should Schools Be Allowed to Limit Students' Online Speech?" I purposefully did not directly answer the question, but rather did a bit of a mic-drop at the end. You'll notice various citations throughout; I cannot replicate the provided documents due to copyright, but all deal with online harassment.


Should Schools Be Allowed to Limit Students’ Online Speech?

    Bullying is an endemic that has claimed thousands of young lives. In the past, students could be removed from situations at the end of the school day, simply by going home alone. Today, however, armed with smartphones, tablets, and laptops, teens are never truly by themselves. In fact, a study found that approximately 21% of Southern US teens have been targeted by online bullying, also known as cyberbullying (Document A). Students aren't the only ones dealing with virtual cyberbullying, though: 15.1% of surveyed British schoolteachers had been harassed on the internet as well (Document B). This led to reduced self-esteem and elevated stress levels, among other negative effects. In extreme cases, this bullying can lead to suicide: an example of this was the death of Amanda Todd, a bullied Canadien teen. Cyberbullying can also disrupt the learning environment, similar to what occurred in Documents C and D. Document C’s example is especially relevant as it deals with “slut-shaming,” or shaming women for their actual or perceived sexual histories. However, this manifestation of rape culture was not born on the internet; the sheer nature of the patriarchy allowed for slut-shaming to happen for decades before the web was created, so a ban on cyberbullying could not and would not deal with much of the harassment that women face. In addition to that, when teens are banned from doing something, it only makes them more eager to participate in the illicit activity. This is due to the fact that they are hardwired to rebel against authority. Also, if cyberbullying is prohibited by law, the police will be getting involved, and that’s the last thing this country needs, as teens are not going to learn from the experience of probation or being locked up. Rather, it will simply make them resentful and angry at the system, as well as opening up the possibility of being abused in juvenile or adult prison. Indeed, if we are to end the rampant bullying in America, we must instill empathy and respect for all people in our children from as young an age as possible. The issue here is not children misbehaving: the issue is that children will emulate what they see in society, which at this point is a culture of otherization and alienation. Simply banning bullying will not solve anything: we need to address the root of the issue.

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