Would Proposed Cyberbullying Law Do Any Good?

The San Francisco Chronicle reports a new cyberbullying law passed the state Assembly with flying colors and now moves onto the state Senate.

The bill attempts to update a 2006 cyberbullying statute that was made before Facebook and other social networking sites became ubiquitous.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, being a victim of cyberbullying can be a common and painful experience for today's teens.

Some cyberbullies:

• Pretend they are other people online to trick others
• Spread lies and rumors about victims
• Trick people into revealing personal information
• Send or forward mean text messages
• Post pictures of victims without their consent

When teens were asked why they think others cyberbully, 81 percent said that cyberbullies think it’s funny. Other teens believe that youth who cyberbully

• Don’t think it’s a big deal
• Don’t think about the consequences
• Are encouraged by friends
• Think everybody cyberbullies
• Think they won’t get caught

What do you think? Can the government legislate away cyberbullying? Do there need to be some laws to protect teens in extreme cases?