Cyber Bullying Bedevils Japan
Author: Dave Lewis
From Reuters:
For many Japanese children, a cell phone is a social lifeline they can’t imagine being without. For high school student Makoto, it became an instrument of mental torture that nearly drove him to suicide.
“Even when I stopped going to school and stayed at home, my cell phone kept ringing with harassing e-mails,” said Makoto, who became anorexic and rarely emerged from his room for nearly half a year after becoming the target of “cyber bullying.”
Makoto, now 19 and working as a hair stylist after graduating from high school, said classmates posted photos of him along with insults on a Web site and e-mailed him at all hours telling him to die. He attempted suicide twice.
“When people tell you your life is not worth living, you start to think that way,” said Makoto, who requested that his last name not be used.
“I couldn’t believe in human beings anymore.”
This is a serious problem and there is help. For example in Canada there is the Kids Help Phone (kidshelpphone.ca).
Tags: Cyber Bullying, Bullying, Japanese School Bullies
