The face of bullying has changed. The stereotypical large, muscular boy picking on a smaller boy with glasses for his lunch money no longer applies. With the technology advancements that come with social networking, there is no true identity or image of “a bully.” The numerous accounts of suicide that have been linked to bullying cause the subject to be forced into the spotlight. Why people are pushed to this extreme may arise from social networking.

Social networking allows anyone to bully whomever they desire without face-to-face contact. Additionally, most social networking is accessed at home. A person’s home is usually a place of refuge and a safe environment; however, with bullying over social networking sites, an escape of continuous put-downs is nonexistent. The feeling of entrapment and the vision of a road with no end can push bullying victims to extreme measures.

Due to the severity and persistence of bullying today, it is important for positive organizations, like Rachel’s Challenge, to combat the negativity of bullying, to let bullies know the debris that is left behind their tirades.