Cyberbullying and The First Amendment

First Amendment and Cyberbullying Student’s Name:Institutional Affiliation Cyberbullying and The First Amendment Electronic communication has caused cyberbullying to be prevalent among students who have access to an electronic device. Cyberbullying has inflicted harm and leaves a victim unable to escape the torment and ridicule during school days. With constant connectivity of cell phones and laptops, cyberbullying has become inescapable through sending hateful text messages, e-mails, releasing confidential messages; flooding a student with malicious messages; creating a humiliating profile page about a student while seeking others to comment; and using a mobile phone to record or take pictures of another student to be embarrassed in public (Hayward, 2011). According to Hayward (2011), forty-three states are implementing anti-bullying statutes but only twenty-one of them covers anti-cyberbullying. The statutes contain restriction of cyberbullying if it results to substantial disruption of the school environment, hostile learning environment, harm to a student or property of school, interfering student's educational performance, and third parties. Despite anti-cyberbullying legislation, people are concerned that instead of protecting bullying victims, it threatens student free speech. Despite anti-cyberbullying legislation, people are worried that instead of protecting the victims, it threatens the free speech of the students since it prohibits them to express their thoughts on controversial topics without worrying that it may result to a hostile environment at school. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution plays an important role in public schools as it ensures stud...