I am reaching out to the editor to share my concerns and frustrations about the lack of Cyberbullying harassment laws in New York State. I experienced cyberbullying in April, when a group of former online friends ganged up on me, spreading lies and rallying others to join in. This kind of cyberbullying is so harmful that it could have led to tragic consequences. When I reached out to the New York State Police for help, I was disappointed to hear that they do not handle cyberbullying cases. Instead, I was simply told to block the individuals on social media or report them.

The issue is that social media platforms like Facebook, often blamed for allowing cyberbullying to thrive, do little to stop it. In fact, they even allow bullies to continue connecting with their victims through group chats. I remember a time in the 90’s when law enforcement took cyberbullying seriously and would contact authorities in the bully’s jurisdiction including out of the state. Now, it seems that New York State has chosen to ignore the problem altogether.

I have great respect for law enforcement, as many of my friends work in the field. However, the lack of action on cyberbullying falls on the shoulders of New York State government. It’s time for them to address this issue and provide protections for those who are targeted online. Thank you for considering my perspective on this important matter.