HR0588 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0588 LRB099 12745 RLC 36538 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Four out of five children aged 2 to 17 in the United States live in a home in which either they or their parents access the Internet; and

WHEREAS, Youth who create Internet content and use social networking sites are more likely to be targets of cyber-bullying; and

WHEREAS, Some parents use social media as a means to discipline, embarrass, or coerce their child in order to correct behavior in their child that the parents believe is inappropriate; and

WHEREAS, This type of online victimization is associated with emotional distress and other psychological problems, including depression; and

WHEREAS, Cyber-bullying, especially by parents, can cause psychological harm, including depression, negatively impact academic performance, safety, and the well-being of the child and in some cases lead to extreme violent behavior, including murder and suicide; and

WHEREAS, Sixty percent of mental health professionals who responded to the Survey of Internet Mental Health Issues report having treated at least one patient with a problematic Internet experience in the previous 5 years; many of these clients were under 18 years of age; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress, consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, to pass a law prohibiting parents from cyber-bullying their children by posting messages or images on social media sites on the Internet that embarrass, intimidate, coerce, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to their children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be forwarded to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.