Bullying your peers online is not okay – and neither is cyberbullying your teachers! Source: Shutterstock.com

A new North Carolina law has been put in place to protect teachers against students who turn to the Internet to bully their teachers.

Basically, it is now against the law there to “intimidate or torment” teachers on the Internet. This could mean making a fake profile for them, but students could also be violating the law even if what they post is true or the pictures of the teacher they put up are real. If it harasses the teacher, then it won’t fly under this new law. The consequences for teens? Potential jail time and a big fine. Yeah, this is serious stuff.

Back when I was in high school, I admit that I would sometimes complain about assignments on Facebook (“Ughhh, why do we have an 8 page term paper due tomorrow?!“). Still, it always made me uncomfortable when I’d see others target the teacher personally.

While people would censor themselves when it came to talking about other students since they could potentially see the posts, because teachers didn’t have access to our Facebook profiles, I think to a lot of people it seemed more “fair game.” Yeah, sometimes it was a “joke” but these comments left me feeling weird rather than wanting to laugh.

One of the arguments against this North Carolina law is that it somehow violates your First Amendment rights, but I don’t feel totally on board with that. Let me say the First Amendment is super important – it gives you the right to voice your opinion! I guess I just feel really conflicted when that awesome power to say what you think becomes a way to tear down another person.

If you really do have an issue with a teacher, I think you most definitely should exercise your First Amendment rights. Teachers often give you feedback on your work (both positive and negative) which makes you a better student, and your feedback can also help make them a better teacher. Voice how you feel by scheduling a meeting with them or the administration or talk it out with your parents. But blasting your teacher on Facebook to your friends? It’s not a controlled way of dealing with an issue. It could mess things up for you, but also your teacher.

People do really take what students say about their teachers seriously because they don’t want to risk any chance that students are somehow in danger. If you’re impersonating a teacher or just throwing around hurtful terms or allegations about your teachers with no basis, that can have major professional consequences for them.

You won’t love every teacher you have (I certainly didn’t), but whether there’s a law in place or not, harassing teachers online isn’t the way to go.

What do you think about this law in North Carolina? Do you feel like it limits your freedom of speech? Have you ever complained about a teacher online? Have any of your friends ever gotten in trouble for harassing a teacher on the Internet? Tell us in the comments!

3 Study Strategies That Aren’t Really Helping You

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Being a mean girl is never fun. | ShutterStock.com

I really don’t have any excuse for this. I can’t justify it at all . . . I showed everyone naked pictures of my BFF. There’s more: she never found out and I never told her.

It’s a long story, but Manny was my best friend since 6th grade. We were so close by the time it was senior year of high school that complete strangers on the street would ask us if we were twins. Even though we look nothing alike. She has long wavy hair and square features and I have short hair and a round face. We dressed so similar and were so in sync with the way we spoke, gestured, and behaved people thought we must be related.

In junior high we had even made our own secret code language to pass notes in class. She was basically the sister I never had—so how could I do something so awful?

When we were 16 Manny’s relationship with her parents got so bad she ran away from home. . . twice. The first time I did everything I was supposed to, I thought. My parents let her stay with us, I let her borrow my clothes, I took her to my school guidance counselor (we didn’t go to the same high school), I even did research on free programs that help kids get emancipated (basically like getting divorced) from their parents.

Have you ever hacked someone

She didn’t take anyone’s advice and eventually went back home. Then one day, after not hearing from her for months, she showed up at my door step with a few bags and asked to stay the night. It seemed like no big deal at the time. Well, one night turned into two and a half years!

Almost immediately after staying with us (which my parents were so supportive of, how cool is that?) she dropped out of high school and started doing drugs. When I told her that she couldn’t stay here unless she went back to school she basically ignored me. My parents didn’t want to kick her out because how could they put a 16-year-old out on the streets?

We lived in the same house and literally did not speak for two years. I was devastated. I had lost not just a friend, but my sister. I was angry one day so I logged into her email (we shared all our passwords) and found naked pictures of her and her boyfriend fooling around. They were full frontal, totally none of my business—so naturally I thought the best revenge would be to show them to my friends.

Miley

I sent them around to about ten people—who didn’t know her since she and I went to different schools. After I did it I immediately felt guilty! No matter how horrible she was to me, which was pretty bad sometimes, it was a terrible thing to do.

I would never do anything like that again and ever since I swore that no matter how crappy anyone ever treated me, spite and revenge are totally not the right thing to do.

It wasn’t until years later when I was in college that we sort of became friends again. We’ll never be as close as we were as teenagers and even though we only see each other a few times a year, she’ll always be my sister.

Have you ever done something bad to a friend? Let us know in the comments!

Have you ever been mean to a mean girl?

Bullying is the worst. Whether you’re at school, hanging with friends, or online, nobody should have to put up with mean comments and haters. It’s clear that we’d love to kick bullying to the curb, but what about the bullies themselves? We can’t just “poof!” make them disappear, or travel back in time to erase what they’ve already done.

Which is how we got to this week’s debate: Should bullies be bullied back? Obviously they need to learn to change their ways, but is the best method a taste of their own medicine? Is bullying a bully a just punishment, or just a little too harsh? Your gURL editors can’t seem to agree, and we want to know what you think. So check out our thoughts and then let us know how you feel.

Who has time for bullies?

Julie: Bulldoze Those Bullies

I get why some people feel a sense of justice over bullies getting bullied and I also see why some people want to help bullies feel better about themselves instead of punishing them. Personally, I don’t really care what happens to my bullies, as long as they’re out of my face. There’s no glory for me in hurting my past bullies or, honestly, in helping them either. If I had my way, I’d just have a big old bulldozer come and push them into a part of the world I’m never planning on visiting.

In reality, what I’ve done is tell whomever’s in charge — teachers, camp counselors, etc. — and then completely stayed out of the follow up with the bully. I’ve been lucky. Most of my bullies have only needed one talking to and then they pretty much act like they’ve been bulldozed out of my life. I have no idea if they’re still bullies or if they’re getting bullied themselves right now. And I really don’t care.

Oh, and by the way? No bullies allowed.

Melanie: Bullies Blow

I’ve heard stories about bullies getting death threats in the mail from people they don’t even know—and I definitely think that’s going way too far, but I wouldn’t exactly be inviting bullies to my birthday party to make them feel included, either. I think when it comes to bullying, a lot of people get “fair punishment” confused with “retaliation bullying.” Bullies totally deserve to be punished for what they’ve done, and I think feeling left out and not really welcome is part of that.

If people whisper about a bully in the hall, telling each other about the awful things he or she did to another student? That’s not bullying, either—those kids are just speaking the truth and warning each other about how nasty that person can be. I’m not saying bullies can’t turn into nice people and earn back friendships and respect—they can—but the thing is they really do have to earn that over time.

Even bullies deserve love!

Jessica: Befriending Bullies

Let me be clear: I’m not saying that I agree with bullying in any way. Actually, I hate it and if I could do something to seriously change it, I would (and I do, if the opportunity comes up). But here’s the thing: bullies are people too. It’s easy to forget that when they’re being cruel and nasty to you and making you feel awful. But before you bully them back, you should ask yourself why they started bullying in the first place.

Some people who bully have serious problems. They could have really low self-esteem, they could have had a horrible childhood or still have a terrible family life, they could have been bullied themselves when they were younger. I’m not saying that any of those things justify bullying someone else, nothing does, but it is something to think about. Maybe what some of them need the most is a hug and a little understanding. Sounds corny, but it could be true.

How would you deal with a bully? Have you ever bullied anyone or have you ever been bullied? Do you agree with Julie, Melanie or Jessica? Let us know in the comments.
bullies

And no, this is not a P.S.A., but we did get Shake It Up star and ginger gURL crush Bella Thorne to lay the smack down on internet bullies. (Can you believe Bella has not only been bullied online but also in school, too?) Listen to her story and get Bella’s tips for going up against someone who’s saying or doing mean things to you online:

Have you ever had a cyber bully? What did they do to you and how’d it make you feel? How’d you get rid of them? Share your stories in the comments.

How much damage can the internet do?

Cyberbullying has been getting a lot of attention lately.

Whether people are talking about the new ABC Family movie, or the new laws passed in California (which give schools the right to suspend or expel students for internet bullying), it seems like the issue is everywhere. Obviously more teens, tweens and kids are using social networks so it makes sense that cyberbullying has increased with it, right?

But is the issue of cyberbullying really as serious as the media is making it out to be? Do we need to step in? That’s exactly what one gURL reader wants to know. She asks:

 Do you believe cyberbullying is a serious, law-worthy issue?

What do you think? Do you think cyber bullying is a serious issue? Why or why not? And if you do think it’s serious, is it serious enough to involve the law? Or should gURLs just tough it out like they do with almost all other bullying? Where do we draw the line? Discuss below.

guys get self-concious, too!

It’s true that some celebs <3 their bods, but others are still struggling — guys included. Apparently, Joe Jonas is “worried about developing stretch marks and dimpling on his thighs, so he uses anti-cellulite cream”. Do you know any dudes who worry about their looks? [Hollywood Dame]

Ashley Fink can “act her face off” and won’t let anyone tell her that her size will hold her back! Swoon! [Seventeen]

Leave Rebecca Black ALONE! Lady Gaga is completely against the cyber-bullying the “Friday” singer is getting… and thinks the gURL is a genius! [PopEater]

Someone finally admits it! Vanessa Hudgens agrees that Hollywood success has a lot to do with staying thin thin. [Hollywood Life]

We guess Simon Cowell isn’t a fan of Gossip Girl (and especially not Pretty Reckless) – he doesn’t even know who Taylor Momsen is! [Wetpaint]

A Spanx-like product is promising “Latino” curves for gURLs… do you think the advertisement is racist? [Ology]

more ways to get gURLy:

• Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
• Luv gURL? Then ‘Like’ us, too! Let’s be friends on Facebook and you’ll get first looks at stories!
• Can’t get enough of gURL.com? We don’t blame you. Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
• Let’s talk. Shout Out advice, music, politics, poetry, your style and MORE!
• Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
• Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
• Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games!