Social networking sites are the latest and greatest when it comes to keeping in touch with friends.
But for some users under the age required to be managing their own sites, they’ve become a hazard to their social life.
According to child behavioral experts, can create long term effects.
In this Action 4 Special Report, a child who has been bullied at school turns to the internet and social networking sites to make friends, but instead has found himself trapped in a virtual world that isn't friendly.
It's on a laptop where a 13 year old we'll call “Adam” keeps in touch with his friends and family on social networking sites.
But it's also closed him off to the real world while opening up a world of hurt for the middle school student.
Adam says, "whenever I see you I’m gonna drop you” referring to a message he received.
Adam has become the victim of cyber bullying.
He claims it's not complete strangers calling him names and threatening him, it's the same kids he goes to school with.
"They're typing and they don't say it to your face, where people are spectating or watching."
The threatening messages have reached Adam through social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.
"Cyber bullying has affected me, it will affect your social, mental, everything."
Cyber bullying has become a serious problem for many teenagers and pre-teens, in some cases even leading to suicide.
If you don't believe words can never hurt you, Adam says mean messages on Facebook and MySpace can feel like sticks and stones.
"It hurts cause it can affect everything you do."
And hurts even more when those threats are acted on.
Adam claims that one of the cyber bullies who threatened him on MySpace kept their promise and attacked him.
We won't disclose the entire incident in order to keep Adam's identity hidden, but he claims to have had marks on his neck after it happened and in this social network world he now lives in, it was made public in seconds rather than days thanks to a click of the mouse.
"And then it gets all around the school."
Harlingen Psychiatrist Dr. Susan Ander has young clients who have had to change schools because of the problems they encountered online that filtered into the classrooms.
She says "now with cyberspace, MySpace, Facebook, a rumor can get from one end of the school to the other in 12 minutes."
Dr. Ander tells Action 4 News many users are too young to handle social networking and the dangers that lurk there.
Kids like Adam shut themselves off from the real world and when they're attacked in cyberspace they have nowhere else to turn.
Dr. Ander says, "Long term damage comes about at that vulnerable age between 5th grade and graduation when children are very sensitive. They're told they're too fat, too thin, they believe it forever. It destroys they're social life."
Marcy asks “Adam”, "Do you consider yourself an outcast?”
His response, “Truthfully I used to be an outcast. I feel like I'm starting to get into the group now."
Dr. Ander believes spending too much time on these sites not only exposes young people to bullies and online predators, but keeps children from making real life relationships.
"They are very poor substitutes for actual interaction between children or teenagers, that's the crucial thing."
She also warns against letting children onto social networking sites at such a young age and hopes more will be done to protect those who are already wrapped up in them.
"Every day you read about more legislation being put in place so that cyber bullying will become a major offense."
“Adam” has just about had enough of the sites and is thinking of protecting himself from more harm.
"If it gets really worse to where I can't take it no more, I can't deal with this, cancel it all."
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT