Cyberbullying is increasingly prevalent in the digital age. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, nearly 37% of young people aged 12-17 have experienced cyberbullying, and 30% of those have seen a significant emotional toll, including anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from school-related activities. In addition, there has been a notable increase seen from 2019 through 2023, which can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic since students started using online chatting systems such as Snapchat and Instagram to connect with other friends and people.

 Current Massachusetts anti-bullying laws, specifically Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 37O, include provisions to combat cyberbullying. However, with the increasing rate of cyberbullying in the United States, and also in Massachusetts, the state law enacted in 2010 should be renewed or added to include preventative or intervention methods for cyberbullying among teenagers. For example, the law should necessitate more comprehensive digital literacy education: responsible online behavior and the potential legal consequences of cyberbullying. While many schools already have prevention programs, they often lack a strong emphasis on educating students about the responsible use of social media and communication tools. Research by the Pew Research Center in 2022 revealed that 64% of teens felt that cyberbullying often occurs because of the anonymity and impulsiveness allowed by digital platforms. By teaching students to critically evaluate their online actions and reinforcing the legal ramifications of cyberbullying, schools can help students develop better online etiquette.

 I propose inserting a short sentence on the starting page of the social media applications such as Snapchat and Instagram. In the starting pages that appear before the game starts in South Korea, there is an icon and a sentence indicating the age restriction for the game. Thanks to this display of the icon and the guidance sentence, teenagers who are attempting to play the games are aware of the severity of the contents they will be exposed to when playing the game. Thus, I believe referencing this in social media applications will be effective in making teenagers aware of the courses of action they will have. For example, on the starting page of Instagram when the brand icon appears, a guidance sentence about the potential consequences one can get by online harassment/bullying can have an impact in reducing the amount of hate speeches on the app since the individuals will now be aware of the potential consequence they can get by harassing another individual online. In summary, displaying a brief, clear message about the consequences of cyberbullying serves as a proactive measure. By raising awareness at the outset, users may think twice before engaging in cyberbullying, ultimately fostering a more respectful and safer online environment that is healthy for everyone.