This is Tina Meier, she is the founder and the executive director of the Megan Meier foundation which also aims to create a cyber bullying free world.

“The Megan Meier Foundation was founded by Tina Meier in 2007 after her daughter Megan took her own life following a cruel cyber bullying hoax by an adult neighbor posing as a fictitious boy on MySpace. Since its inception, MMF  has grown into a global bullying and cyber bullying prevention foundation. Through education, prevention, and intervention we work to support and inspire actions to end bullying, cyber bullying, and suicide.” - Megan Meier Foundation

Their foundation really did caught our attention since it is a story of a mother that lost her child and is now advocating against the reason behind her daughter’s suicide in order to make sure that no other kid would ever have to go through what her daughter went through which is truly beautiful. 

To Tina Meier, you are an amazing women that helped a ton of kids and people out there. Your daughter is surely proud of you and so are we. We will follow your footsteps as we push through with our advocacy

This foundation was founded my a mother whose daughter was daughter was cyberbullied through social media and unfortunately led up to her death. Her story is a very said and devastating story.  This just happens way too much and there needs to be a change.

In part two of my four-part series about Our Children, we delve into the realm of technology & social media. Technology is constantly advancing in the fields of science, even now developing a wheelchair in which has the capability to climb stairs. Look at how we use technology: cell phones, PC’s, Ipods, etc. We can never escape it and why should we. However, when it comes to our children, it can become a dangerous place to be. In a well-written piece by Jane E. Brody, a blogger for the New York Times, she discusses how the addiction of technology is taking a great effect upon our children (the link to the full article is attached). Going into detail, it covers how children early as two years shouldn’t be exposed to anything electronically, this according the American Academy of  Pediatrics. Furthermore, they ascertain that “a child’s brain develops rapidly during these first years, and young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens.” Yet, in the end, one things stood out to me like a sore thumb: the clear effect technology had/has on children in school performance. As stated by a study in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, schoolwork can be hurt when media time contravenes on both reading and learning. What’s more, the inactive characteristics of nearly all electronic involvement can promote the detrimental weights of these children, which is already widespread amongst the young people in the country. Kids who are intense users of electronics could quite possibly become proficient at multitasking, but they can squander the capability to concentrate on what is most significant, a characteristic important to the meaningful thought and pinpointing is compulsory for numerous professions and other undertakings further on in life. If you have a chance, I urge all of you to read this article. As many of us know, social media can be used to impact & inform the world. Take for instance, when SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) ruled same-sex marriage was constitutional in June, the hash tag #LoveWins was tweeted 5.5 million times in a 24-hour stretch according to USA Today via the social analytical site Topsy. Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge that took over all of social media, raising millions of dollars for the noteworthy cause of ALS? I could go on and on but, we have the ability to do a lot of good when it comes to social media. Just I previously mentioned when discussing technology, it has many pitfalls, if not more. When it comes to social media, most notably Facebook, it’s a haven of negativity, especially cyber bullying. According to statistical data from the Department of Education, the proportion of students in 2013 who reported being bullied or cyber-bullying accomplished a historical decline (21.5% from a record high of 27.8% in 2007); however female students are nevertheless ill-treated at elevated rates. If that wasn’t enough, as per the CyberBullyHotline:

- 7.5 million users of Facebook are 13 years old and younger - 81% of teens state that bullying online is easier to get away with - 20% of kids who are cyber-bullied ponder suicide; 1 in 10 attempt it - 4500 kids commit suicide each year - Suicide is the #3 killer of teens in the United States behind car accidents & homicide

There are countless stories that we read day in and day out about cyber-bullying in this country, but I’d love to share one of these stories with you. It’s about Megan Taylor Meier, a 15 year old who was pushed like so many others to end their life much too soon. I’ll attach the link of her story to this blog to know about her story and the unfortunate taking of her precious life. Parents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, grandparents, young & old, listen to the cries of these youth. We must be there for them, provide with a loving structure, and tell them that they’re beautiful/handsome, wonderful, and that the world is theirs. Steer them away from the potential online bullies that exist not only via social media but in real life as well. If you know anyone who may be being bullied, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). I urge us all to be the difference in their lives, no matter how young or old they may be. These children are the future leaders in the world. Be there.

http://nobullying.com/the-megan-meier-story/

I just saw Megan's Story featured on Web Of Lies, and I wanted to say a few things. 

Dear Megan, 

Wow, I was extremely surprised when I saw your story on TV, because I was in a similar situation with the cyberbullying and things like that. I tried to kill myself many times before, and it made me so upset to see that you are gone. I cried my eyes out, knowing that you are so beautiful and amazing and had so much potential, and the bullying ruined you. I never knew you, however, I wish I could have. I'll see you soon beautiful. I love you. 

Megan Taylor Meier (November 6,1992 - October 17,2006) died of suicide by hanging herself three weeks before her fourteenth birthday. The reason? Cyber-bullying.

Megan's story sends shivers down my spine. Not unlike many teens in 2006, Megan opened at MySpace account. She received a message from a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. Josh claimed to have recently moved to a town nearby, was homeschooled, and did not have cell phone yet. The two exchanged messages frequently. In the beginning Josh made Megan feel alive, but eventually it would be Josh who would cause Megan to take her life. 

Josh Evans was not a real person. The account used to torture Megan was created by Lori Drew, the mother of one of Megan's friends. Lori, along with others including her fellow employees and children, intended to use Meier's messages sent to Josh to get information about her and later humiliate her. 

On Monday, October 16, 2006 Megan took her life by hanging herself. The last message sent by Josh read: "Everybody in O'Fallon knows who you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a shitty rest of your life, The world would be a better place without you."

While I have given you a short account of Megan's story, I would encourage you to read her entire story here. 

The Megan Meier Foundation was founded in December of 2007 by Tina Meier, Megan's mother. Her devotion and passion towards this foundation is simply put, beautiful. Tina lost her daughter and now will stop at nothing to make sure that no other child has to endure what Megan did. It is the Foundation's mission to "bring awareness, education and promote positive change to children, parents and educators in response to the issues surrounding bullying and cyberbullying". It is her goal to celebrate individuality and the acceptance of others. Although the world was cruel to her, she is working tirelessly to make a change and create a safer and kinder world. 

Most people don't take a negative and change it into a positive. Tina Meier found a way to do that. It is thanks to her that their have been fewer suicides due to cyber-bullying. I find it frightening that it is so easy to sit behind a screen and ruin someone's life. I believe that people bully online because they believe that their actions won't have immediate responses. If you say something rude to someone in person they may punch you in the face, but a computer screen won't do that. Today people can sit in the comfort of their own homes and harass others. Some may take cyber-bullying as a joke, but when you write something online you never know how someone may perceive it. I think the problem with society today is that we don't realize the potential we hold to effect others lives and the power the technology gives us to do so. 

ABC Family made a movie, Cyberbully, that is loosely related to Megan Meier's story. I would highly recommend watching it. The movie does a fantastic job discussing all of the prominent issues with cyber-bullying today, including anonymity, legal loopholes that enable cyber-bullying, fpr example why Lori Drew was not charged with the murder of Megan Meier, peer pressure that teens feel to be a part of social media and digital relationship, and the distraught emotions cyber-bullying inflicts on its victims and families. The movie brings light to the life behind the screen. 

Once again, I would highly recommend looking at the Megan Meier Foundation started by Tina Meier. If you are a parent reading this post, please make your children aware of cyber-bullying and if you see any issues arising please seek extra support and guidance for your child. Tina Meier has provided you with the necessary information and support to help your child. If you have been bullied or want to help with Tina's cause please join the Foundation. Every person in the world holds the power to make a difference. Your story or your support can go further than you even know.

My deepest condolences go out to the entire Meier family for their loss. Rest in peace Megan. 

Thank you Tina Meier. Thank you for staying strong. Thank you for spreading awareness about cyber-bullying. Thank you for helping people to realize that they are not alone.