Bonnie Lee and Jessica-Leigh Stancer are both victims of bullying.
BULLYING is no longer just a school-contained issue.
With the popularity of social media, bullying is following children home to their laptops and mobile phones.
Nineteen-year-old Jessica-Leigh Stancer was bullied throughout high school after moving to Mandurah in year seven.
Ms Stancer said it was hard to stay positive given the abuse followed her home.
“It got to a point where I attempted suicide and then I got laughed at because of that,” she said.
According to beyondblue figures, one in 10 Australian teenagers experience some form of bullying using technology, which is commonly termed cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying includes threatening emails, being teased or made fun of online, having rumours spread online, having unwanted pictures, messages or videos posted on websites and getting sent offensive online messages.
Ms Stancer said she was the victim of a Facebook site known as Mandurah Doggz where more than 300 ‘friends’ post rumours and offensive remarks about Mandurah locals.
“They posted all these lies about me on Mandurah Doggz where everyone could see it,” she said.
“It’s hard not to be affected by it as everyone can see what people are writing and most of them don’t even know me.”
Ms Stancer said she used to cry about the comments, but now bites back.
“I don’t care what they say about me now,” she said.
Senior research fellow at Edith Cowan University Kate Hadwen specialises in studies on cyberbullying.
She said cyberbullying was just another form of offensive behaviour.
“This is just another avenue for people to engage in negative behaviour,” she said.
“There’s a temptation to read it [offensive/hurtful comments] and re-read it which can be harmful.
“It doesn’t take long to start to believe it.”
Ms Hadwen said children who transition from primary school to high school - and those particularly in year nine - see a cyberbullying spike.
Ms Stancer’s 14-year-old cousin Bonnie Lee, a year nine student, said she continues to be a victim of cyberbullying and despite warnings to ignore it, said it was hard to do.
“It’s hard to ignore it as you know it is about you,” she said.
Following a horrific hit and run incident in 2008, Ms Stancer said some students at her school were remorseful, but said it didn’t last long.
“They were actually nice to me about it after the hit and run but it only took a few weeks before it got worse,” she said.
Ms Stancer said she was sick of bullying and bullies and said Mandurah was one of the worst areas for it.
“It was only since I moved down here that it became an issue,” she said.
“But now it is everywhere in Mandurah.
“Nobody is perfect.”
