Joe McMahon said he believes the issue of bullying is so important that the Kane County state’s attorney devoted an entire media briefing to the subject. While many problems related to the subject have been happening for years, McMahon said there is a spotlight on something he never had to deal with while he was growing up – cyberbullying.

The word refers to harm that can be done through the Internet – such as a social media website, a message board, email or texting, among others. McMahon said this development has to do with the perception that bullying has become a bigger issue than ever before. He said it is almost as though the school day doesn’t have an ending.

“The school day used to be defined,” McMahon said. “Now, with all the Internet sites and Facebook, the communication is extended. I didn’t talk to my classmates when I got home [when I was a student]. They didn’t talk to me.”