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FCC: Schools Must Educate Students on Dangers of Cyberbullying

by Amar Toor on October 29, 2010 at 01:45 PM

boy on computerThe FCC takes cyberbullying very seriously -- and it wants to make sure that schools do, too. Today, the Federal Communications Commission announced that all schools receiving subsidies for Internet access must educate students on the dangers of cyberbullying, and teach them how to use social networking sites responsibly. Schools receiving federal funding under the nationwide E-rate program are already required to have strong Internet safety policies and secure online filters. Under this forthcoming regulation, though, they'll also have to clearly address cyberbullying -- a phenomenon that affects about half of all U.S. teenagers according to the National Crime Prevention Council.

Cyberbullying has become an increasingly hot topic in recent months, and its potentially horrific consequences have become more painfully apparent. As you'll recall, Rutgers student Tyler Clementi committed suicide last month after his roommate streamed a video that showed the 18-year old having sex. The tragedy seems to have opened up an entirely new national dialogue on cyberbullying, and the FCC clearly considers it to be of the utmost importance. Education and awareness courses probably won't completely quell the inherently adolescent impulse to bully, but it's definitely reassuring to know that schools are doing their part to help students safely navigate the digital jungle.

Tags: awareness, CyberBullying, e-rate, education, FCC, rutgers, SchoolFunding, schools, SocialNetworking, Suicide, teens, top, TylerClementi

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