"I may get hammered for saying this but I believe it to be true, kids are not free today to grow up on their own."
I went to school long before there was an Internet, true. However, I've raised 7 kids in the "Internet era". Short answer: if someone's being a jerk to you online, it couldn't be easier: delete it, get off that page and don't read it, log off. It's like watching TV: If you don't like what you see, change the channels or turn it off. Kids hang themselves over "cyber-bullying" because they lack self confidence, self esteem; in short, they have zip for a self-image. That....is primarily the job of their parents to impart to them. Now I'LL get hammered for saying that. Just watch.
As for you "getting hammered for saying this....", not from me, you won't. You make a great point. All we can really do as parents is do our level best to prepare our kids for what they will face "in the world" and pray that A) it "took", and B) the Good Lord looks after them.
An important parenting lesson can be thrown in there, when your kid comes to you about this: Their opinion of you is NONE of your business.
I agree with this part of what you said. However, if a child doesn't have those kind of parents, they are truly at a disadvantage.