Torment. Pain. Defeat. This is the experience of a young girl who took her life because a classmate continuously sent her threatening messages calling her “worthless, ugly and stupid.” Tragedies like this are all too real and many come with deadly consequences.

“Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyberbullying,” according to the Cyberbulling Research Center.

Cyberbullying fatalities are growing at an alarming rate. Children are using social networking sites to spread rumors, leave intimidating messages and threaten other children. Could this problem be solved if children weren’t allowed on social media sites?

If a child is old enough to type cruel messages then he’s old enough to tell right from wrong.

Because many children have accessibility to social media sites, stricter regulations are needed to limit their usage.

Social networks should make it mandatory for children to have a parent signature and a valid phone number. If this were to happen and something got out of hand the parent would be responsible. Also there should be rules of agreements from the parents, so they’re keeping a watchful eye on their child.

If more measures are enforced children will become more cautious of their online behavior, which could prevent future children from becoming victims of cyberbullying.

No child should have to endure constant pain to the point where they take their own life.

Of course, kids will be kids, but cyberbullying is coming with deadly consequences. Children aren’t being kids when they are sitting behind a computer, telling another to “go die.” If children are using social media sites as a way to bully, responsibility should be placed on both the social networking site and the parent. Parents need to take account for their children and social media, like Facebook, monitor the behavior.

Cyberbullying will worsen before it gets better if this responsibility doesn’t occur.

Social media isn’t supposed to be a tool of destruction, but a platform to connect with friends, share photos and communicate in a mature matter.

Until there’s a balance of vigilance, children will continue to use social media to victimize other children.