Two Norwell teenagers were charged with identity fraud after posting a fake Facebook profile, impersonating a female student from Norwell High School. According to an article from the Patriot Ledger, the two recent Norwell High graduates posted offensive and harassing information on the fraudulent profile. The profile was only online for one day, Facebook officials removed it when they were informed it was a fake. However, as many cyberbullying situations do, the problems stemming from the profile spilled over into school. The student has since transferred from Norwell High School. The students charged face up to two and a half years in a house of correction.
It is important for students to know that there can be serious consequences for their actions. While some of the things that students write about other students online might be protected by the First Amendment, identity fraud is against the law. As this story indicates, law enforcement isn't afraid to charge students who commit identity fraud online. Facebook is a great way for students to stay connected to their friends, be creative and express themselves. Unfortunately, parents and students need to be aware that these things can happen and that they should alert the authorities if they feel they are a victim of identity fraud or online harassment.
For more information about cyberbullying and cyberbully prevention strategies, check out these sites:
http://www.cyberbully.org/
http://www.cyberbully411.org/
iKeepSafe.org
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Cyber bullying is very serious - deadly actually.
I heard enough in the news that I made it my mission as a single working mother to protect my son when on line.
I found a website called SafeWave.org that has protected him from bullies and predators through their kid site iland5.com
SafeWave.org gives me information about internet safety. iland5.com has games for him and he put up a webpage
iland5.com won't let anyone on the site unless the school verifies their identity, and it has software filters and staff monitors that won't let nasty videos, comments or bully converstations get to him
I tried software with filters but it always messed up my computer. You don't download iland5.com or SaveWave.org - as long as he's on iland5.com he's safe
I'm so sold on it(although its free) that I tell everyone. My hope is that we can stop the horrible things happening to kids on line. We, the parents, have to do something!
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