(Editor’s note: The following article was submitted by Big 3 News viewer Hencexox. This is the story of 7th-grader Jessi Slaughter and what Florida law enforcement are investigating as a case of cyber-bulling. While the actions taken against young Jessi cannot be condoned, some have speculated that the girl’s online use wasn’t being watched or monitored properly by her parents. In addition, Jessi may have been planning to use YouTube and other social sites to to create content that would take her “viral”, an online term used for material that becomes wildly popular almost overnight. In a profanity-laced original video (WARNING: Explicit language) in which she spoke directly to the online haters, Jessi said she was a “normal girl, perfect in every way,” happy with her life, despite the nasty comments, and if they didn’t stop she would “pop a glock in your mouth and make a brain slushie.” Jessi believed trolls were harassing her because they were jealous that she was popular online, more pretty than them, and had more fans.)
Jessi Slaughter was just a normal eleven year-old girl utilizing rich media such as YouTube and Stickam to meet new people on the Internet.
That is, until a group known as “Anonymous”, also “/b/” and “4Chan”, found her.
“Anonymous” found the innocent young girl as fair game and began to pounce. Thousands upon thousands of foul comments piled up on Jessi’s YouTube page. The harassment expanded from YouTube to Stickam, as internet trolls — slang for online people who post inflammatory comment to solicit an emotional response from the intended victim — began to fill her live shows barraging her with insults.
The group then targeted her personal life, finding her Facebook account and retrieving all of her personal information. Soon, everything about Jessi Slaughter was all over the Internet: her email address, home address, phone number, and IP address.
More harassment ensured with a bombardment of calls to Jessi’s home, her email address was continuously spammed, and fake pizza deliveries were sent to her home.It wasn’t long until Jessi finally snapped, her meltdown caught on camera.
She revealed how the harassment had broken her family and ruined her life. Her father soon jumped into her room where she was recording a video later posted on YouTube, enraged and screaming at those who harassed his daughter. He claimed that he had “back-traced” the Internet trolls and had reported them to the “cyber police.”
Jessi’s dad left a stern warning for “Anonymous” that “consequences will never be the same” if they went near his daughter.
Nonetheless, “Anonymous” took nothing of the warning and ridiculed it. The video of her meltdown went viral on YouTube, hitting over one million views before being removed as a violation of the video sharing site’s Terms of Use.
Jessi is now under police protection, but is still being harassed as people continue to call her home.
In an exclusive interview with MomLogic website, Jessi’s mother defended the girl and said the harassment included calls to their home by people posing as police officers, doctored pictures of Jessi circulating on the website, and calls to the local police department reporting the family for alleged sexual activity on Craigslist.
When asked if the parents knew Jessi was making online videos, the mother said her daughter had a webcam and used it to chat with friends online, and had used the webcam to make a video to audition for “America’s Got Talent”.
“I had no idea she was making other videos,” Dianne Leonhardt told MomLogic. “I can’t be in the room 24/7.”
This is a perfect example, in my opinion, of “cyber bullying”, a term used to identify online bullying which uses electronic technology as a means of victimizing others.
Many states have recently pushed for legislation to designate this type of activity as a crime. Here are some tips on cyber bullying and what you can do to help protect your friends and family while enjoying the experience of the Internet:
Be careful where you post personal information - By limiting the number of people who have access to your contact information or details about your interests, habits, or employment, you reduce your exposure to bullies that you do not know. This may limit your risk of becoming a victim and may make it easier to identify the bully if you are victimized.
Avoid escalating the situation – Responding with hostility is likely to provoke a bully and escalate the situation. Depending on the circumstances, consider ignoring the issue. Often, bullies thrive on the reaction of their victims. Other options include subtle actions.
Document the activity – Keep a record of any online activity (emails, web pages, instant messages, etc.), including relevant dates and times. In addition to archiving an electronic version, consider printing a copy.
You can learn more by visiting the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team and browsing the Cyber Security information available, as well as numerous other organizations dedicated to protecting children online.
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8 Responses to Breakdown: Florida family "can't sleep, can't eat" over cyber bullying of 11-year old Jessi Slaughter
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okay this is why my children don't have a computer in their own room. It should be in a public area of the house for everyone to use. I feel sorry for the child. But parents could have taken care of this a bit more if they had the child out where she could be monitored. the mother is right she can't be with her 24/7. but there are things you can do like keep the computer in a public area in the house, to help monitor. I wish the family the very best of luck in this situation.
She is still only 11 That*s young & it sounds like way to much info posted online Her last name really should not b out there for public consumption How about Jessi S. instead?
This Topic Shows How the computer is Used for evil not good.
the Children need to be out side playing more then in side on the com-link.The computer has become the Adult baby sitter for the youth.I rember President Clinton stating "Every house in America should have a computer"..my question to him is WHY?…………….End of Line
Her father is a new YouTube celritry now: mustaches and boxer shorts FTW
Now as for the story, one of the first rules of the interwebz is: "If it hurts, just dont stay on it"
Some may say it's a cry for help, some might thing this cam whore just begging for more subs on her channel by playing the "poor little harrassed white girl" scam.
1) "WTF is a 11yo doing on the interwebz?"
2) As for the father, when you want to kill someone: dont warn them first; now that your boxer shorts and your heavy mustache iz on the net, you'r going to jail dude for "public death treaths"
3) Of course, IMHO, anyone wearing that kind of outfit and hair due should go to jail anyway..
4) Dude, you only putting more oil in the gulf, YouTube is defintly the last place you want to post this. If you want results, post it on Ebaumsworld……ok, no need, i already done that for you
Ok after carefull analysis of the video, i can add some points:
- Her name is SLAUGHTER??? seriously? that's pushing it.
- Hand / eye movement and the camera angle show that's this is was rehearsed. This tempo is the same as Joe Crocker who surely jump on the occasion to post a "Leave Jessi alone" video in the next days.
- Anyone remember the last time von Helton was hacked one year ago? Did the father posture reminds you anything?
Cyberbulling exist because ppl are cruel in nature.
God gift of freedom of choice was an error of judgment; or maybe his idea was: "ok, you choose now! screw you guise, i m going home.."
now, for a more positive view of things: Jessi, noone knew you, and now you'r popular on the whole planet thanks to YT and CNN. So just think for a moment? You are not going to stay 11yo forever, and on day maybe you'r going to meet someone celeb, just because some asshole posted a fake nude pic of you on the net. You'r not an unknowed 11yo brat coming for some white trash family who cant even make a bed before posting a video, you'r one of us now, so, welcome to the circus.
(Muhahahahah)
This whole story is just shameful and disgusting. The child should be taken away by DCFS and the parents should be in jail. On a lighter note..great observation Meow TV! Even if this story is fake, the parents should be prosecuted. What is this world coming to?
actually, thinking of it, this girl should write a book:
"How cyber bullying made me loose weight"
I'm sure this would sell at WallMart
11yrs old is wayyy to young to have a Youtube page in the first place. My daughter is 12yrs old and asked for one before this story broke and I said no, you are to young. After the story broke I showed why I said No, and plus the language this young girl was using, I NEVER used at that age and the combination of the words I NEVER heard until now from her mouth and I am 41yrs old. she reminded me of Sybil & Raven (the exorcist) combined!