HR0014LRB100 04175 RLC 14181 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Four out of five children aged 2 to 17 in the 
3United States live in a home in which either they or their 
4parents access the Internet; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Youth who create Internet content and use social 
6networking sites are more likely to be targets of 
7cyber-bullying; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS,
Some parents use social media as a means to 
9discipline, embarrass, or coerce their child in order to 
10correct behavior in their child that the parents believe is 
11inappropriate; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, This type of online victimization is associated 
13with emotional distress and other psychological problems, 
14including depression; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Cyber-bullying, especially by parents, can cause 
16psychological harm, including depression, negatively impact 
17academic performance, safety, and the well-being of the child 
18and in some cases lead to extreme violent behavior, including 
19murder and suicide; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Sixty percent of mental health professionals who 
 
 
HR0014- 2 -LRB100 04175 RLC 14181 r

1responded to the Survey of Internet Mental Health Issues report 
2having treated at least one patient with a problematic Internet 
3experience in the previous 5 years; many of these clients were 
4under 18 years of age; therefore, be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
6HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
7urge Congress, consistent with the First Amendment to the 
8United States Constitution, to pass a law prohibiting parents 
9from cyber-bullying their children by posting messages or 
10images on social media sites on the Internet that embarrass, 
11intimidate, coerce, harass, or cause substantial emotional 
12distress to their children; and be it further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be 
14forwarded to each member of the Illinois Congressional 
15delegation.