Teenager's Beating Raises Cyberbully Fears

They'll be tried as adults on kidnapping, battery charges

(NEWSER) - The eight Florida teens who videotaped a half-hour beating of a classmate will be tried as adults and could face life behind bars if convicted, CNN reports. The suspects face felony kidnapping charges, and three also face witness tampering raps. They seemed remorseless, a sheriff said. “They were joking: ‘I guess we won’t get to go to the beach during spring break,'" he said. More»

'Meet kids where they live: online'

(NEWSER) - Schools that ban teachers and students from social media may think they're keeping classrooms safe from the harassment, bullying and exploitation of social networks, but actually they're missing a chance to harness the tremendous energy kids devote to social media, Nicholas Bramble writes on Slate . By bringing Facebook, MySpace and YouTube into the classroom, teachers can channel this energy toward schoolwork, Bramble says. More»

Police say girls ambushed their rival to post it on YouTube

(NEWSER) - Six girls aged 14 to 17 lured another teen to a home, beat her and videotaped the ambush to put it on the Internet, Florida police say. The 16-year-old victim is recovering from a concussion and hasn't fully regained her vision. Her assailants, with whom she'd been feuding online, may be charged as adults with battery and false imprisonment, the Lakeland Ledger reports. More»

(AP) - A Los Angeles federal judge has tentatively thrown out the convictions of a Missouri mother for her role in a MySpace hoax directed at a 13-year-old neighbor girl who ended up committing suicide. US District Judge George Wu acquitted Lori Drew of misdemeanor counts of accessing computers without authorization. Wu says his ruling will become final when he issues it in writing. More»

Site's obscure contract, which most ignore, is key to the case

(NEWSER) - A criminal indictment over MySpace bullying that led to a Missouri teen's suicide sets an unusual and perhaps dangerous legal precedent, experts say. Because her activities violated the site’s terms of use, Lori Drew faces charges of computer fraud and abuse related to the death of Megan Meier, Wired reports—and the charges involve a contract that few users even bother to read. More»