Cyber-bullying blamed for brawls - Local News - News - General - The Border Mail

Cyber-bullying blamed for brawls - Local News - News - General - The Border Mail
CYBER-bullying has been blamed for an escalation of youth violence in Albury.
“There’s been an alarming increase in the number of reports we’ve had of kids being bullied over social networking sites like Facebook where cowards get on the computer ... and put some pretty nasty comments on there,” Insp John Wadsworth, of Albury police, said.
“What we’re also finding as a result of this is there’s been a spike in assaults with young kids involved.”
Police said children as young as 10 were embroiled in the violence, with the average age being between 12 and 16.
Fights usually took place after school, between 3pm and 5pm, and at a variety of locations including skate parks and shopping centres.
“There’s been an alarming increase in the number of reports we’ve had of kids being bullied over social networking sites like Facebook where cowards get on the computer ... and put some pretty nasty comments on there,” Insp John Wadsworth, of Albury police, said.
“What we’re also finding as a result of this is there’s been a spike in assaults with young kids involved.”
Police said children as young as 10 were embroiled in the violence, with the average age being between 12 and 16.
Fights usually took place after school, between 3pm and 5pm, and at a variety of locations including skate parks and shopping centres.
“The parents have actually to teach their kids how to resolve conflicts without using their fists,” she said.