FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - With an increased use of communications technology comes an increased number of people, both young and old, using it to harm others.
With this in mind, Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale on Monday visited seniors at the North Schuylkill High School and stressed the danger and legal ramifications.
A 1994 North Schuylkill graduate, Hale presented a program, "Cyberbullying and The Law," as part of the national observance of Law Day.
"Children often use this technology to harass, annoy and harm other children via social media and text messaging," Hale said.
Detailing the increased use of cellular telephones, the prime source of texting, using Facebook and Twitter, Hale said that, in June 1985, an estimated 203,600 people had cellphones compared to 327,577,529 in June of 2011.
"Cellphones are the number one form of communications for teens," Hale said. "More kids have cell phones than ever before, including 83-percent of middle school students."
She said research shows teenagers text more than they talk, averaging 3,146 text messages each month compared to an average of 203 calls.
On top of that, the judge said 58 percent of teens have smartphones, like iPhones and Android devices, and 18 percent share their location by having the GPS function enabled.
Cell phones offer a wide range of uses beyond making calls including sending and receiving messages and pictures, taking pictures and videos.
"These indispensable devices have become part of our everyday life," she said.
Along with the benefits, cell phones, tablet computers, laptop computers and home computers can create an atmosphere of threatening behavior, intimidation, unwanted advances, harassment and bullying.
"Cyber bullying is on the rise with children and teenagers posting harmful or cruel texts or images by way of the Internet," she said.
Hale said a 2010 survey by the Cyber Bullying Research Center showed that 20.8 percent of all children have been cyber bullied in their lifetime, 17 percent were cyber bullied once in the past 30 days, 13.3 percent have been cyber bullied by rumors on line, 14.3 percent have been cyber bullied by mean or hurtful comments and 7.2 percent have been threatened online.
The effects of cyber bullying vary on each victim and such online tormenting has led to physical encounters as well as the victim committing suicide.
"Viral shaming through Facebook and other social media has sadly led to suicide among multiple teenage girls," the judge said.
Hale said that in Pennsylvania, schools are mandated to have anti-bullying polices and disciplinary consequences.
Anyone involved in such behavior can also face criminal stalking charges under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18.
Persons convicted of the crime of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree for a first offense, can be jailed for up to five years, or for up to seven years if charged as a felony of the third degree for subsequent offenses.
Another charge used by law enforcement under title 18 is the crime of harassment that carries up to 90 days if charged as a summary offense, or up to one year in jail if charged as a third degree misdemeanor.
Students watched an eight minute video of Amanda Todd who after enduring bullying on Facebook committed suicide on Oct. 10, 2012, one week after her 16th birthday.
"The bullying was incessant and although she changed schools three times it followed her via social media," Hale said.
She said although no one is immune from becoming a victim of cyber bullying there are avenues to take to stop it before it is too late. Some of those steps are:
- Never post or forward inappropriate pictures or images of others - Don't Participate!
- Block the sender.
- Don't Reply. It usually just encourages the sender.
- Communicate with a trusted adult.
Hale said if the messages or communications are serious or threatening, children should not delete the messages but instead show their parents or an adult and contact police. The police, officials said, will need the original communication for evidence and to trace it to the sender.
If the social network, such as Facebook, is notified they are obliged to remove the post making it difficult to prosecute, investigators said.
"This type of action has to be taken seriously and cannot be underestimated," she stressed.
Christian Temchatin, high school principal, said although students learn about the history of the law, having the ability to have an official such as Hale speak about current issues that may or may not affect them is outstanding.
"Knowing the history of law is important but having someone come here in person and speak on a topic that is relevant today makes it that much better," he said.
Hale said she was glad to be able to come back to North Schuylkill 20 years after she graduated and share some of the knowledge she has learned in her career with the law both as an attorney and a magisterial district judge.
The observance began in 1958 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed "Law Day" to strengthen the heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law.