On May 14, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Lori Drew, 49, of Missouri, the first of what would become known as the cyber bully. Ms. Drew had created a MySpace site for Josh Evans, a fictitious teen boy she used as a means of getting information from Megan Meier, a 13-year-old girl with whom Ms. Drew's daughter had had a falling-out. Josh pretended to be interested in Megan, but then said that she was "fat" and that the world would be a better place without her. Megan hanged herself within an hour of receiving the final comments from "Josh." Ms. Drew was later charged and convicted of conspiracy and accessing computers without authorization.*

Since the time of that case, there have been a number of similar incidents in which friends, parents, and others harass individuals using the various sites available from Facebook to Instagram. States now have very specific cyberbullying statutes for prosecution. As one expert phrased it, we have to take responsibility for what we post online and the consequences that can stem from hurtful or fearsome comments. There are both civil and criminal statutes that provide curbs for victims. Civil remedies allow for injunctions, and criminal penalties are at a level that allows them to serve as a deterrent for the types of postings that began with the Drew case.

Then answer the following questions (include your thoughts). Why would the judge not find a criminal violation? Is it a crime to bully over the Internet? Are there any other criminal statutes or crimes covered in the text that are applicable to Lori Drew's actions? Do you think Ms. Drew should have also been charged with the death of Megan Meier rather than with conspiracy, unauthorized computer access, and three lesser charges? Why or why not? Given the amount of mean-spirited content that is constantly posted to social networking sites, should these sites - as well as legislation - go further to protect their users against cyber bullying, or should users assume more of the responsibility in protecting both themselves and their children? Why or why not?