Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying, instead of happening
face-to-face, happens through the use of technology such as computers, cell
phones and other electronic devices. Cyberbullying peaks around the end
of middle school and the beginning of high school.
Examples of cyberbullying include:
- Sending hurtful, rude, or mean text messages to others
- Spreading rumors or lies about others by e-mail or on
social networks
- Creating websites, videos or social media profiles that
embarrass, humiliate, or make fun of others
Bullying online is very different
from face-to-face bullying because messages and images can be:
- Sent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Shared be shared to a very wide audience
- Sent anonymously
Effects
of Cyberbullying
Research on cyberbullying has found
that students involved are more likely to:
- Be unwilling to attend school
- Receive poor grades
- Have lower self-esteem
- Have more health problems
Cyberbullying can have particular
affects on those who are targeted. Research has found that young people who
have been cyberbullied are significantly more likely to:
- Use alcohol and drugs
- Skip school
- Experience in-person bullying or victimization
What Kids, Teens and Young Adults Can Do
Be
Smart Online and Texting
You can prevent cyberbullying by being
careful of what you do:
- Always think about what you post or say. Do not share secrets, photos or anything that might be
embarrassing to you or others. What seems funny or innocent at the time
could be used against you. You do not have complete control over what
others forward or post.
- Set privacy settings on your accounts. Make sure that you are only sharing information with
people you know and trust. Pay attention to notices from social networks,
because sometimes privacy settings change.
Make
Cyberbullying Stop
If you or someone you know is being
cyberbullied, know that it does not have to be this way. There things you can
do to help you and your friends:
- Talk with someone you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best
ways to deal with the problem. Reach out to a family member, friend or
another adult that you trust.
- Do not respond to cyberbullying. Sometimes people post or text teasing or name-calling
to get a reaction. If someone has posted or sent a message that could be
hurtful to others, refuse to pass it along or respond to it.
- Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times and descriptions of instances
when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, e-mails, and
text messages.
- Block the person who is cyberbullying you. Many websites and phone companies let you block
people. Also, cyberbullying may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of
these services. Consider contacting the service provider to file a
complaint.
- Report the incident to your school. They may be able to help you resolve the cyberbullying
or be watchful for face-to-face bullying.
- Ask for help.
Sometimes, talking to a counselor or health professional can help you get
through the emotional effects of bullying.
What Parents Can Do
Although it is difficult for you to
monitor your children at all times, it is extremely important to pay close
attention to possible cyberbullying incidents involving their children,
especially if their kids are younger. The Children's Online Privacy Protection
Act (COPPA) gives parents control over what information websites can
collect from kids.
Help
Kids be Smart Online or While Texting
Here are some things that you can do
to help prevent cyberbullying.
Communicate with your children. Set up a daily time to check in with your son or daughter,
and listen to any concerns about online activities that they are involved in.
Talk specifically about cyberbullying and encourage your children to tell you
immediately if they see or experience cyberbullying.
Be aware of where your children go
online. Familiarize yourself with the
technology they are using.
Develop and enforce rules. Work together and come to a clear understanding about when,
where, and for what purpose phones and computers can be used. Develop clear
rules about what is and what is not appropriate online. Decide on fair
consequences and follow through consistently.
How
You Can Help
If you know or suspect your children
are being cyberbullied, take quick action.
Talk with your children. Do not just ignore the bullying problem or hope it will go
away. Tell your child that you are concerned and that you'd like to help.
Tell your child not to respond to cyberbullying. Responding can sometimes make the
situation worse.
Empathize with your child. Tell him or her that cyberbullying is wrong, that it is not
their fault, and that you are glad he or she had the courage to tell you about
it. Do not assume that your child did something to provoke the bullying. For
instance, do not ask things like, “What did you do to aggravate the other
child?”
Work together to find solutions. Ask your children what he or she thinks can be done to
help, and reassure him or her that the situation can be handled and still keep
them safe.
Document ongoing cyberbullying. Work with your children to record bullying incidents. Write
down what happened, where, who was involved, and when it occurred. Find out how
your child reacted and how the students bullying, bystanders, and adults
responded.
Block the person who is cyberbullying
your children. Many websites and phone companies
let you block people. Cyberbullying may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of
these services. Consider contacting them to file a complaint.
Contact law enforcement. Police can respond if the aggressive behavior is criminal.
The following may constitute a crime:
- Threats of violence
- Child pornography and sexting
- Taking a photo image of someone in a place where he or
she would expect privacy
- Harassment, stalking, or hate crimes
- Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages
- Sexual exploitation
- Extortion
Be Persistent. Talk regularly with your child to see whether the
cyberbullying has stopped. If the bullying persists or escalates, you may need
to contact the appropriate people again or talk with an attorney. Don’t give
up.
Schools play an important role in
ensuring that activities of kids, teens and young adults are in a safe
environment, in school or in cyberspace.
Preventing
Cyberbullying
Educate students, teachers, and other
staff members about cyberbullying,
its dangers, and what to do if someone is cyberbullied.
Discuss cyberbullying with students. They may be knowledgeable about cyberbullying and they may
have good ideas about how to prevent and address it.
Be sure that your school’s rules and
policies address cyberbullying.
Closely monitor students’ use of
computers at school. Use filtering and tracking software
on all computers, but don’t rely solely on this software to screen out
cyberbullying and other problematic online behavior.
What
To Do When it Starts
Investigate reports of cyberbullying
immediately. If cyberbullying occurs on-campus
or through the school district’s internet system, you are obligated to take
action. If the cyberbullying occurs off-campus, you can still help. Remember
even cyberbullying that occurs off-campus can affect how students behave and
relate to each other at school.
- Closely monitor the behavior of the students involved
at school for all forms of bullying.
- Investigate to see if those who are cyberbullied need
support from a school counselor or school-based health professional.
- Notify parents of students involved in cyberbullying.
- Talk with all students about the negative effects of
cyberbullying.
Contact law enforcement. Notify the police if the aggressive behavior is criminal.
The following may constitute a crime:
- Threats of violence
- Child pornography and sexting
- Taking a photo image of someone in a place where he or
she would expect privacy
- Harassment, stalking, or hate crimes
- Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages
- Sexual exploitation
- Extortion
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