CyberbullyingMEDT 8201

By Kimberly Sharp

What is Cyberbullying?

“Cyberbullying is using electronic means to bully, harass and otherwise make life miserable for people.”

Mike Donlin, manager of federal technology programs and cyberbullying education & prevention efforts, Seattle Public Schools (http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1030)

What is Cyberbullying?

"Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others".

Bill Belsey, President of Bullying.org Canada (http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1034)

Examples of Information & Communication Technologies

E-mail Cell phone and pager text messages Instant Messaging (IM) Chat Rooms Webcams Social Networking Websites (Facebook,

MySpace) Defamatory Personal Websites Defamatory online personal polling Websites

Categories of Cyberbullying

Flaming - Online fights using electronic messages with angry or vulgar language.

Harassment. Repeatedly sending nasty, mean, an insulting messages.

Denigration. "Dissing" someone online. Sending or posting gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships.

Impersonation. Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material to get that person in trouble or damage their reputation.

Nancy Willard, author of "An Educators Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyber threats”, 2006

Categories of Cyberbullying

Outing. Sharing someone's secrets or embarrassing information or images online.

Trickery. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information and then sharing it online.

Exclusion. Intentionally and cruelly excluding someone.

Cyberstalking. Repeated, intense harassment and denigration that includes threats or creates significant fear

Nancy Willard, author of "An Educators Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats”, 2006

Examples of Cyberbullying

“I hate you” messages Name-calling blogs Students use cell phone cameras to take

nude photos of people in the locker room and e-mail them to classmates

Teenagers text message the deepest darkest secrets of former friends to students throughout the school

Videos are edited and posted on YouTube without permission of the people in the video

Facts

50 percent of kids have had some type of negative interaction online

10% or more report bullyingMike Donlin, (http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1030)

What Causes Someone to Become a Bully?

Sociocultural Theory› Victim of physical abuse or bullying themselves› Angry about events at home› Desire power, strength, attention & popularity

Psychoanalytic Theory› Afraid of showing their feelings or weaknesses› Pick on others or scare them to hide their own

feelings› Jealousy

What Causes Someone to Become a Bully?

Behavioristic Theory › Thrive on the reaction they get from their

victims› Choose only those they can dominate

Passive or Easily intimidated Smaller, younger, defenseless Isolated or friendless

Epigenetic Theory › No evidence of genetic disposition

Different Styles of Males & Females

Boys – Overt Aggression› Physically hurt or intimidate› Threaten

Girls – Relational Aggression› Verbally harm – specifically with regard to

peer relationships› Manipulate› Retaliate by exclusion or badmouthing

Cyberbullying vs. Traditional Bullying

Bully is removed from immediate feedback from the victim

Bully doesn't "see" the harm they have caused or the consequences of their actions

Bully’s feelings of remorse or empathy are minimized

Kids will do and say things on the Internet that they would be much less likely to do in person

http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/cyberbullying.htm

Someone may be involved in Cyberbullying if he or she…

Spends long hours on computer Closes windows on computer when you

enter the room Is secretive about internet activities or

won’t say who they are talking to Has trouble with sleeping, stomach &

headaches, lack of appetite, crying

Someone may be involved in Cyberbullying if he or she…

Fears leaving the house or has lack of interest in social activities

Feigns illness before school or community events, frequent visits to school nurse

Exhibits low self-esteem or behavioral changes

Changes their attitude, dress or habits Has missing or incomplete school work

Emotional Consequences - Victims

Rejected by peers Experience loneliness, social anxiety,

suffering & distress More submissive than peers Interferes with social & emotional

development, school performance Can lead to suicide

Emotional Consequences - Bullies

Greater likelihood of criminal conviction› By age 24, 60% of people who were bullies

have at least one criminal conviction http://www.bullying.org/htm/main.cfm?content=1059)

Struggles in life› Alcoholism› Antisocial personality disorders› Mental health issues

Advice for Victims “Telling is not tattling. Telling is to make

things safer & better, tattling is something you do to get people in trouble on purpose.” Talk to an adult about it. http://www.bullying.org/htm/main.cfm?content=1059

Don’t reply to messages – it’s what the bully wants

Save all messages for documentation – you don’t have to read them, but you may need the evidence

Advice for Victims Block the sender to prevent receiving

future messages Consider changing your e-mail or cell

phone accounts Inform Internet Service Provide (ISP) or

cell phone providers Call police

Tips for Safe Internet Activity

NEVER give out personal information or passwords› Name, name of friends or family, address, phone

number, school name, team name, pictures of yourself, e-mail address

› Ask permission before sharing any info on a website or in a chatroom

› Never tell anyone your password except your parents

NEVER arrange to meet with someone you met online unless your parents are with you and always choose a public place

Don’t believe everything you see or read – some people pretend to be someone they are notSuggestions taken from cyberbullying.org

Tips for Safe Internet Activity

Be polite to others online – if someone is mean, don’t respond

Don’t send messages when you are angry – wait until you’ve had time to think about it

Avoid online arguments – be respectful – use emoticons (smileys) to indicate humor or sarcasm – don’t use offensive language

Don’t open messages from someone you don’t know If you see or find something you don’t like, tell an

adult Don’t stay online too long – disconnect and try

reality!

Suggestions taken from cyberbullying.org

Parents - How Text Savvy are You? Know some Online Acronyms – cyberbullying.org

2L8 -Too late 4GM -Forgive me ASLP -Age, sex, location,

picture? BF -Boyfriend BME -Based on my experience BTDT -Been there, done that DIIK -Darned if I know EG -Evil grin G2G – Gotta goGAL – Get a lifeGR8 – GreatHCIT – How cool is that

HHVF -Ha-ha, very funnyIAG -It's all good KIR -Keepin' it real LTR -Long term relationshipLOL -Laugh out loud MMA – Meet me at…MMAMP -Meet me at my place OMG -Oh my gosh POS -Parent over shoulderROTFL -Rolling on the floor laughing TTFN -Ta ta for now TTYL -Talk to you later W2F -Way too funny W8AM -Wait a minute

Advice for Parents – Preventing Cyberbullying

Determine an appropriate amount of technology for your kids to access› Do they need a cell phone? With what features?

Keep computers in a an open space, not the bedroom

Set guidelines for internet usage› Limit time on the computer› Consider not allowing use when parents aren’t home› Discuss what they should do if they see something

inappropriate

Advice for Parents – Privacy Issues

Sharing Passwords› Require kids to give you access to all of their accounts

Open Policy OR Placed in a sealed envelope in the event of emergency

› Remind them to never share passwords with anyone else Someone could impersonate or misrepresent them, or ruin their

reputation

Don’t allow them to register for free games, prizes, contests

Talk about dangers of meeting someone online Discuss the Internet as an Open Forum – everything

is public knowledge Share the dangers of “sexting”

› Sexting involves sending sexually explicit text or photographs› There is no guarantee of privacy even with current boyfriend or

girlfriend

Advice for Parents – Preventing Cyberbullying

Social Networking Sites› Utilize privacy settings to prevent unlimited

access› Discuss profiles & pages – is it accurate?

Appropriate? Too detailed? Positive rep?› Become your child’s “friend” by setting up

your own account› Take an interest in their e-pals the same way

as friends that come home If you don’t recognize the friend, delete them

Advice for Parents – Preventing Cyberbullying

Have kids show you how to use the internet› Set up your own accounts and have them

help!› Learn how to post videos on sites like YouTube

Monitor internet usage› Check the browser history to see what sites

they visit› Restrict or monitor chat room functions

Advice for Parents – Software Assistance

Visit http://kids.getnetwise.org/tools/ for descriptions of a variety of tools you can use!› Filters to prevent personal information from being shared› Internet monitors› Website blockers› Time limiting tools› Browsers for kids

eMailTrackerPro – tracks internet e-mails back to IP Address

McAfee Parental Controls – chat filtering system for IM & chat room

Predator Guard – scans text for potential threats, logs violations for use by law enforcement

Advice for Parents – if your child becomes a Victim

Talk to your child in a positive, accepting manner› Remind them that it is not their fault› They did the right thing by telling you› Discuss how they’ve tried to stop it

Don’t overreact, blame or punish Work together to learn from experience Work with teacher or counselor Work to teach how to make good choices –

applies to all areas of life Encourage them to ask you for future support

Advice for Parents – Raise Caring Kids & Prevent Bullying

Encourage and reward kindness & empathy› Kids who are cared for are likely to care more for others› Parents are great role models for nurturing, kids will

imitate Speak firmly about thoughtlessness & cruelty Criticize the behavior not the child

› “What you did was not very kind” vs. “YOU are not kind.”

Volunteer together in the community Treat kids with respect & dignity Monitor exposure to media (books, movies, TV)

› Emphasize programming with compassionate characters

› Minimize those that exhibit selfishness, criminal behavior or violence

› Discuss the differences

Suggestions for Teachers & Schools

Ensure that school filters & firewalls are up to date

Find out about programs in other schools to combat bullying› Peer mediation, conflict resolution, anger

management, adult supervision Create cyberbullying policies with consequences

› Most cyberbullying occurs off campus which makes it difficult for schools to punish, but it affects kids while they are in school

Communicate with parents & staff regarding the seriousness of the issue

Suggestions for Teachers & Schools

Keep close contact with school resource officers Be on the lookout for victims Make sure students know who they can go to at

school for help Teach kids how to use the internet

appropriately› Remind them that they are not anonymous – they

leave a technological fingerprint (IP) that can be obtained by authorities

Designate a staff member to address cyberbullying complaints

Advice for Bullies It is wrong & illegal to threaten, intimidate or

harass other› Anything you say can have a damaging effect

on someone else. › Never post anything that could harm someone

– names, address, phone numbers, mean things – even if you believe that they are true

› Even positive comments about appearance can be harmful and degrading

Hurting others doesn’t make you important Bullying makes you mean

Advice for Bullies Bullying when you’re young leads to trouble when

you’re older› Academically› Socially› Emotionally› Legally

Seek help ASAP – talk with a parent, teacher, principal, counselor or doctor

Develop a plan to stop destructive behavior Be a leader – get involved in sports, school groups,

community Treat others the way you want to be treated!

Websites for CyberbullyingEducation & Support

http://www.isafe.org http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org http://www.cyberbully.org http://www.cyberbullying.us http://www.wiredsafety.org

Suggestions from http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1030

References from CourseDen

American Psychological Association. (1998, March 26). Boys and girls are cruel to each other in different ways -- but the effects are equally harmful. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/03/980326075743.htm

American Psychological Association. (n. d.). What makes kids care? Teaching gentleness in a violent world. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.apa.org/topics/kidscare.html

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2008, May). Bullying. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/bullying

Bullying.org. (2003). Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.bullying.org/splash_page/bullying.cfm?sRes=1024

Cyberbullying.org. (n. d.). Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.cyberbullying.org/

GetNetWise.org. (2008). Kids’ safety. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://kids.getnetwise.org/

References from CourseDen

Riley, S. (2007). Q & A: Mike Donlin: Standing up to cyberbullies. School CIO. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604538

Winter, R. E., & Leneway, R. J. (2007). Terror in the classroom: What can be done?, Part 1. School CIO. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604797

Winter, R. E., & Leneway, R. J. (2007). Terror in the classroom: What can be done?, Part 2. School CIO. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604815

Winter, R. E., & Leneway, R. J. (2007). Terror in the classroom: What can be done?, Part 3. School CIO. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604856

Winter, R. E., & Leneway, R. J. (2007). Terror in the classroom: What can be done?, Part 4. School CIO. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604866

Additional References

CSRIU, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. (2007). Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.cyberbully.org

Connectsafely.org. (2009). Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.connectsafely.org/

Halligan, John P. (2009). In Memory of Ryan Patrick Halligan. Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org

Hinduja, Sameer and Patchin, Justin W. Cyberbulling.us (2009). Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.cyberbullying.us

Isafe.org. (2009). Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.isafe.org/

Additional References

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (2009). Netsmartz Workshop. Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx

Wired Kids. (n.d.) Wired Safety.org. Retrieved July 2, 2009 from http://www.wiredsafety.org