So prosecution of cyberbullying is increasing all over the country and especially here in southeastern Pennsylvania. Jurisdictions, police departments, and counties are starting to see that that’s where these crimes that might actually turn into a crime are starting. So those threats are starting online, that bullying is starting online, and they’re starting to realize that. And so, prosecutors are starting to take it more seriously when a case comes in with just threats on the internet. And what’s happening in schools is students aren’t really being taught the effects of the computer on their life and actually, I do trainings for free to a lot of the local schools on cyberbullying and a subset of cyberbullying called sexting, which is where text naked pictures of yourself to other people.

And it is becoming more pervasive all the way down to middle school. I’ve represented cases in our area with middle school students doing that. I think the problem is, is that parents and teachers think oh, well maybe it’s just a high school issue but I assure you, it is not. There are kids as young as nine, 10, 11 years old that are more savvy on that computer than you think and they’re getting themselves into trouble because they don’t realize the impact that it can have on the greater community. They don’t realize that saying a derogatory term against a teacher or threatening to blow up a school building can have dramatic impact on the community as a whole based off of what’s been happening nationwide.