[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

That's horrible, that's why I worry about my daughter and younger people on the net. I'd say she'll be atleast 16 before I let her go on un supervised. It's scary all these kind of bullying stories you here, young teenagers even killing themselves over that kind of thing.

The part that many /some people seem to miss in all of this is: online socialising has taken over what used to happen in days gone by: whereby people used to meet up in person, know each other in person and in real life.

A great deal of friendships arise from online conversations and online interraction regardless of age - but looking at it from 'youngsters' point of view in particular: they are very impressionable, they want to fit in and all it takes is that one bully to start rounding up their possy...... much going on elsewhere in the background - people being set up when they think these people are their friends - and before you know it: all sorts of thiings are posted online and then spread like wildfire - with much of it not being taken down, and remaining online for many years later.

Yes, it could be argued that 'similar' may happen in real life - people do get let down in real life - but it is far easier to bully, intimiate, harrass, badger and cause distress online, to a far wider audience with far less control over the end result.