Cyberbullying.

Thirty states have laws to protect against the schoolyard bully, but a new and equally destructive form of student harassment is now occurring across America: cyberbullying. It's the use of cell phones, computers and the posting or sending of images intended to harass and threaten others. Instant messaging, chat rooms, e-mails, and messages posted on websites are the most common methods of this new twist on bullying. Cyberbullies can quickly spread messages and images to a huge audience, while remaining anonymous, often making them difficult to trace.

A survey by i-SAFE America of 1,500 fourth through eighth grade students found that 42 percent of kids have been bullied online but more than half of them have not told their parents or an adult. In 2003, a school-age child committed suicide because of intense cyberbullying.

Characterizing cyberbullying in a bill is a challenge for legislators because it is difficult to cover all of the electronic options. But states are producing creative legislative solutions. Four states have passed cyberbullying legislation--Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho and South Carolina. Idaho's legislation covers the gamut of cyberbullying tactics including land lines, mobile phones and computers. Arkansas' legislation prohibits bullying and cyberbullying on school equipment and property, including school buses and school bus stops.

As electronic devices become increasingly portable, along with new electronic video sharing websites, cyberbullying is likely to increase.