Phoebe Prince couldn’t even find peace on Facebook. A group of teens from South Hadley High School in South Hadley, MA called the “Mean Girls of South Hadley” bullied Phoebe Prince, a 15 year old, until she hung herself. The teens have been brought up on charges, but that doesn’t bring back a life. The Mean Girls made a point of destroying her online life also as her physical life. Even after death, the Phoebe Prince Facebook page nevertheless had comments from the Mean Girls of South Hadley all over it, reports Fox News. According to Dr. Keith Ablow, the Mean Girls could have gathered an excellent deal of information with which to terrorize Phoebe Prince, including but not limited to her sensitive nature and malleable sense of self.
Phoebe Prince, Facebook and predators
As Dr. Ablow suggests, people who fit the typical profile of a bully can quickly detect a weakness in their prey, as they did with the Phoebe Prince Facebook. Such bullies are driven by a need to tear down others, so they quickly acquire the ability to find their openings with bitter efficiency.
Teenage years are hard for everyone, but for Phoebe Prince who was pretty and unsure in life, it is more difficult. Although millions would prefer to be beautiful, if teenagers have no confidence then they will become targets for being attractive rather than being popular, as Dr. Ablow observed. Bullies will watch for people who they think have no defenses to mount resistance.
Hating was the Mean Girls’ drug, suggests Dr. Ablow
“Dehumanizing her had to have been intoxicating,” he told Fox. What would the point be otherwise? Ablow suggests that getting information off of Phoebe Prince Facebook was a means to an end, or a high in this case. Considering how widespread social media like Facebook are today, it’s easy to see how dangerous sensitive personal information could be in the wrong hands. Identity theft issues can come up and destroy credit while also, in the case of Phoebe Prince Facebook, can destroy the psyche.
It a bully control possible?
The needed cultural shift can occur once bullies aren’t lauded as James Dean-esque rebels anymore. Detention and suspensions are ineffective tools, Dr. Ablow feels – better methods for dealing with discipline in schools are needed. Scorn isn’t needed, concern is. Total removal and home schooling until a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist can assure a school that the bully is no longer a threat to themselves or others. Parents or caregivers have to step up.
