Missouri mother fighting cyber-bullying

MUNDY TOWNSHIP (WJRT) -- (10/15/08)--A Missouri mother was in Genesee County's Mundy Township Wednesday to talk about the dangers of bullying and cyber-bullying.

She launched a nationwide campaign after her daughter committed suicide following an elaborate hoax.

Megan Meier took her own life two years ago. She had met a boy on the Internet and was devastated when he began writing hurtful things and spreading rumors to her friends.

Meier's mother Tina Meier spoke Wednesday at a conference sponsored by Mott Children's Health Center about what can happen when a child is the victim of a bully.

"People should not be able to get behind a computer, get behind a device and be able to harm other people," she said.

The mother of a former friend of Megan Meier's allegedly created a fictitious profile in order to gain her trust and learn what she was saying about her daughter.

Now Tina Meier is traveling the nation, warning others about how cruel bullying can be.

"I want laws to change. I don't want other people to go through what we've gone through," she said.

Meier told the audience that bullying and cyber-bullying are something that continue every day. She wants to bring awareness.

"We have to bring people up to speed," she said. "Cyber-bullying is not something people really understand."

And she warns that parents should never think it won't happen to their child.

"Megan was a girl who loved to do what every other child did and this can happen to anyone, anywhere and any place. We hear that all the time," she said.

Meier is hoping a million children sign a pledge that they will not engage in bullying of any sort.

For more information and to sign the pledge, click here.

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