Initial Script Ideas and Research

Start – I want to open my documentary with a blank screen and the sound of a news reporter. Then the screen fades from black to the news report on screen. Then I will use facts and figures and give an opening to cyberbullying with a narrative. While I speak, there will be cutaways of computer screens, keyboards and mobile phones. I will say which I will be aiming to put across to the audience throughout the documentary.

Middle – I will use a real life story in this middle section – but I will change the names. I will create a mini-reconstruction to show what it is like. The real life story will be based on victim Megan Meiers. She was the victim of cyberbullying and sadly took her own life in 2006. Although this took place in the United States, I want to show how serious cyberbullying is all over the world and that this kind of harassment shouldn’t be taking place. Megan was only 13 years old when she committed suicide because her online boyfriend turned nasty. Later on, they found out this ‘boyfriend’ was Megan’s neighbour, trying to find out if Megan was ‘bitching’ about her daughter. During this horrific story I will show cutaways of Megan but blur out the face.

End – I will discuss the current situation worldwide and in the UK. I will post my opinion of cyberbullying and summarise.

Facts and Figures
- 42% of children have been cyberbullied
- 21% have received a threatening e-mail
- 15% of parents knew what cyberbullying is (85% don’t know)
- Girls are more likely to be victimised
- 81% of cyberbullies do it because it’s “funny”.
- 41 percent of victims do not tell anyone in their off-screen lives about their abuse, but 38 percent did tell an online friend.

Why do people cyberbully – poll from 2008
- 22% motivated by revenge
- 18.7% said the victim deserved it
- 10.6 % said they did it for fun
- 3.9% hated the victim
- 3.5% pressured by peers
- 2.8% retaliated against a bully
- 2.5% venting anger
- 5.7% other reasons

The charity BeatBullying has reported that 44% of teenage suicide cases stem from bullying incidents. In just eight years, 2100 children killed themselves, with almost half of these tragedies occurring because of tormenting from other kids. Many victims were pursued by bullies online, via email or on social networking sites.