Teen Checkup | Internet Safety

Missouri Makes Good for Megan Meier

In the midst of all my posts about the MySpace suicide trial, I came across this tidbit, but the current trial and all of its implications were so complex that I ended up having a tough time fitting this in.

As you know - if you’ve been a faithful reader, following this last two weeks of posts about Megan Meier’s suicide - the State of Missouri was at a loss when the suicide of Megan Meier hit the Internet posts with a furious flurry and compelled state officials to investigate the unprecedented happenings that lead to the young girl’s taking of her own life.

Sounds simple, right?

Essentially, officials in MO wanted to charge Lori Drew with some kind of cyberbullying law, holding her responsible for Megan’s death. The problem? They didn’t have any law like that on the book. In fact, they couldn’t charge Drew with anything.

All of that may be changing.

The implication of this new law may make similar cases very different, and don’t be surprised if this law doesn’t set the precedent for Federal legislation in the near future.

Here’s the skinny:

The bill, which was recently signed by the Governor, updates existing state laws against harassment to be more relevant with current technological developments. Specifically, the new bill removes the requirement that the communication considered to be harassment be written or over the telephone. Supporters of the move say the updated bill will now cover harassment from electronic devices like computers and text messages.

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: Cyber-bullying, megan meier, missouri

Cyberbullying Goes On Trial

In what is probably the most visible case involving cyberbullying, the death of Megan Meier has loomed large on the horizon for pundits of teen internet safety, advocates - and opponents - of social networking, and media gawkers who can’t get enough of reality-T.V. car wrecks, especially when they’re not on T.V. This case -tragically- is just plain real.

To state it simply, Megan Meier was a teenager from Missouri before she took her own life by hanging herself. Meier may have been a one of any number of American teens that kill themselves every year: a family tragedy , and a national statistic. But Megan’s case is different. Megan’s death has lead to a trial that will put the phenomenon of cyberbullying front and center in the national spotlight.

Usually a teen suicide would never involve a trial at all. Clearly suicides are usually a private, one-sided affair by definition; the larger community only playing the part of mourners, witnesses, and - especially where a young person is concerned - dumbfounded by-standers, left to contemplate the confusing aftermath. But the prosecutors in Megan’s case have a different understanding of the events that lead to the girl taking her own life.

For an overview of the case check out this article, and stick with the next few posts as we dive deeper into the issues that are at stake in this important trial.

This post was written by: Joe Nolan

Tags: Cyber-bullying, megan meier, missouri