A legislative committee hears public testimony on the subject of bullying through the use of text messaging and social media. Under state Senator Tim Cullen’s proposal school districts would be required to define “cyberbullying” and prohibit it.
The Janesville Democrat says the legislature passed a similar bill last session for traditional bullying, but electronic bullying was not specifically included in the measure. Cullen says the Internet, social media, and text messaging give kids new avenues to “harass and terrorize their peers.”
Last month, a Madison girl was beaten in a shopping mall parking lot after being threatened by the offender on Facebook. Cullen’s cyberbully bill is up for a public hearing in the Senate Education committee Tuesday.