Sexting and Cyberbullying: Defining the Line for Digitally Empowered Kids

Shaheen Shariff

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139095891

Directed at policy makers, legislators, educators, parents, the legal community, and anyone concerned about current public policy responses to sexting and cyberbullying, this book examines the lines between online joking and legal consequences. It offers an analysis of reactive versus preventive legal and educational responses to these issues using evidence-based research with digitally empowered kids. Shaheen Shariff highlights the influence of popular and 'rape' culture on the behavior of adolescents who establish sexual identities and social relationships through sexting. She argues that we need to move away from criminalizing children and toward engaging them in the policy development process, and she observes that important lessons can be learned from constitutional and human rights frameworks. She also draws attention to the value of children's literature in helping the legal community better understand children's moral development and in helping children clarify the lines between harmless jokes and harmful postings that could land them in jail.

'In our increasingly complex society there is no more challenging context for the community and the law than young people's actions in cyberspace of sexting and bullying. This book shines light on the nuanced complexities of the problem in an easy to read style, essential reading for educators, policy makers and the legal profession. Shariff brings her wealth of knowledge in this area to the book as well as providing a strong voice for change.'

Marilyn Campbell - Queensland University of Technology

'Shaheen Shariff’s thorough and thoughtful book Sexting and Cyberbullying is a must read for anyone who wants to better understand the pervasive and complex problems implicit in the modern world of technology and social media. Drawing upon her extensive knowledge and research on cyberbullying, she provides a practical and sensitive analysis of how to respond to the dark underbelly of the internet, without condemning the digitally empowered younger generation. Shaheen Shariff rises to the challenge set in her title and 'defines the line' between pushing the boundaries of social media and thoughtlessly victimizing other human beings. While the temptations to judge and punish in both courts and the courts of public opinion are great, Professor Shariff demonstrates their limits. Her more nuanced exposition of the problems of cyberbullying and sexting and evidenced based responses to these problems offer real hope for positive change and relief for the many victims.'

A. Wayne MacKay - Yogis and Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

Sexting and Cyberbullying

Defining the Line for Digitally Empowered Kids

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Dedication
pp v-vi

Contents
pp vii-xii

Preface
pp xiii-xvi

Acknowledgments
pp xvii-xviii

Chapter One - Confronting Cyberbullying
pp 1-35

Chapter Two - Sexism Defines the Lines between Fun and Power
pp 36-74

Chapter Three - The Irony of Charging Children with Distribution of Child Pornography
pp 75-102

Chapter Four - Keeping Kids Out of Court: Jokes, Defamation, and Duty to Protect
pp 103-140

Chapter Five - From Lord of the Flies to Harry Potter: Freedom, Choices, and Guilt
pp 141-160

Appendix A - Charting Out Canadian and U.S. Anti-Bullying Legislation (as it Applies or Can be Applied to Cyberbullying Incidents)
pp 161-187

Appendix B - Expanded DTL Research Data
pp 188-189

Appendix C - Sample Workshop Provided to Undergraduate Students at McGill University
pp 190-200

Appendix D - Public Policy, Law, and Digital Media (Sample University-Level Course)
pp 201-211

Index
pp 212-219

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