A recent article by The New York Times describes a new form of bullying in high schools via the Internet.
Are teens more vicious to each other online where they can't see each other face-to-face? Perhaps.
Of course, the implications of teens' actions online can be global in scale, like posting scandelous pictures online or spreading rumors through blogs.
But this shouldn't be a reason for parents to curtail their teens' Internet use. Let's not forget the positive aspects of the teen Internet movement. Teens are getting more creative and communicative due to the Internet.
Take blogs for example. Everyone has a blog these days that documents everything from peoples' daily lives to current events. Blogs have become a way for teens to express themselves and receive international exposure at the same time. The Internet is making it "cool" for teens to write.
If anything, incidents like those described in the above article should be a wake-up call to teens to be aware of the power of the Internet and act responsibly -- something they're learning to do through fumbles like the ones described in the article. It shouldn't be a reason to stop going online.
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