Senate Commission on Cyberbullying Heads to North Smithfield

Senate Commission on Cyberbullying Heads to North Smithfield

“It’s an epidemic that’s gone countrywide,” said Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield), chair of a Rhode Island Senate commission looking into the issues of cyberbullying and cyberthreats. Tassoni also sponsored legislation (2010-S 2871A) to create a panel tasked with tackling the increasingly dangerous issue. This Thursday evening, the public is invited to testify before the commission when the panel meets at North Smithfield Middle School in one of a series of hearings addressing cyberbullying and cyberthreats in the community the panel has been holding for several months. “It’s to reach out to administrators and address their concern and so I can give them the tools they can use to help combat it, along with resource offices and for parents.” said Tassoni. “We’ve had parents come forward and tell us their story…it’s scary.”

What Cyberbullying Encompasses

Cyberbullying involves the use of various forms of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. It may be simple, such as continuing to email someone who has said they want no further contact, or it can include threats, sexual remarks or posting false statements as fact intended to humiliate someone. Tassoni said that in his opinion, with busy lives and demanding schedules, the social aspect of parenting has "gone out the window." He also challenges developers of social media sites to take a stand against the abuse of their various technologies. Tassoni said he has placed several phone calls to the office of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg looking for an endorsement against cyberbullying. “And none were returned,” he said. “He’s just raking in the money on the backs of our children, and predators on top it.”

In addition to public testimony, the agenda for the hearing includes the following speakers: Stephen F. Lindberg, North Smithfield Superintendent of Schools; Jeffrey Goss, Assistant Principal, Portsmouth High School; Peter Sanchioni, Natick, MA, Superintendent of Schools; Ann Burke, President, Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund Supporting the Prevention of Relationship Violence through Education; Denise Panichas, Executive Director, The Samaritans of RI; Christopher Poulos, BMX world champion and motivational speaker.

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The study commission is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the Senate by the end of March. Thursday’s panel is from 6-8pm, in the cafeteria at North Smithfield Middle School, 1850 Providence Pike, North Smithfield, RI.