Another Very Sad Case of Cyberbullying - Megan Meier

In May, 2008, Lori Drew was charged in the US District Court with one count of conspiracy and three counts of computer crime. The indictment alleges that Drew created a MySpace account pretending to be a 16 year old boy named Josh Evans and sent messages to 13 year old Megan Meier, an acquaintance of Drew's daughter. When the messages started in September, 2006, they were friendly and expressed romantic interest in Meier, but by the next month "Evans" sent Meir a final message saying "The world would be a better place without you." Shortly thereafter, a distraught Megan hung herself.

If convicted, Drew could serve up to 20 years in prison.

Obviously, more work needs to be done to stem the growing plague of cyberbullying that has become the bully's medium of choice in the 21st century, and serves to remind us all that with freedom comes responsibility, and an obligation to look out for those under our care. The Internet offers a wealth of knowledge, resources, games, and entertainment that can (and should) be enjoyed by everyone. However, with the freedom that comes from an unlimited, unregulated communications network also comes the need to be diligent and aware of the dangers that lurk therein.