Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Social networking or social media are a great way to keep in touch with friends, family, or just a way to keep up with the social life of everyone around you. Unfortunately, as we all know there are consequences to our online networking such as cyber-bullying.
Mr. Speaker, cyber-bullying is bullying with the use of digital technology. It can take place on social media, game platforms, gaming platform, and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour aimed at scaring, angering, or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:
Speaking halftruths or opinions that may or may not support the evidence out there;
Sending harmful, abusive, or threatening messages via various messaging platforms;
Impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or fake accounts;
Saying and implying comments about the person without using the person's name.
Facetoface bullying and cyber-bullying can often happen alongside each other but cyber-bullying leaves a digital footprint that can be seen for a long time or can be reproduced.
Mr. Speaker, cyber-bullying is one of the worst things that we live with today, not only for teens but for society in general. It is a very stressful and dangerous way to deal with issues and can have some very bad consequences including, mainly, such things as depression, even suicidal thoughts.
Mr. Speaker, as we all have experienced, there are individuals out there using Hansard as a platform to get their opinions across and saying things without consequences. As a politician, we get individuals out there that don't agree with your decision or of this government. I once asked an individual why they took to social media to express their frustrations and their response was it is a way to say things that are on my mind without no one arguing with us. I tried to explain that this was not the best approach to go about. The response I received is you should be doing the same thing. You should be out there disagreeing with and arguing with the people on that platform. At this point in time, we agreed to disagree and move on to another topic.
Mr. Speaker as Bono says, be kind to one another. I hope and pray people actually follow through on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife South.
