Prepared by Cross-Tab Marketing Services &Telecommunications Research Group forMicrosoft Corporation

Cyberbullying:Parents & Educators

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Conducted by Cross-Tab Marketing Services

Conducted online between September 21st and October 4th, 2010

505 parents of 5-18 year-olds, and 495 educators from middle, junior and high schools in the U.S.

Parents were asked to comment about their eldest child as to the role they play in ensuring their child’s safety from cyberbullying and the efforts/preventive measures they implement to deal with this issue. Educators were asked about what schools are doing to address this issue and their role in ensuring children are protected from cyberbullying

Quotas were implemented on gender and type of school for parents

Quotas were implemented on role of educators (teacher, principal, etc.), type of school and public vs. private school for educators

Methodology

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Parents and educators both express familiarity with and concern about cyberbullying.

90% of parents are familiar with cyberbullying; 73% are either very or somewhat concerned about it. 2 in 5 parents report their child has been involved in a cyberbullying incident; 1 in 4 educators have been cyber-harassment victims.73% of educators are familiar with the issue and 76% believe cyberbullying is a very or somewhat serious problem at their school.Educators consider cyberbullying (76%) as big an issue is smoking (75%) and drugs (75%).

However, it is not seen as a top priority for schools to address, suggesting that many parents and educators tend to engage with cyberbullying only after it has become a problem. While many parents and educators do take action, more can be done.

Parents of children who have been touched by cyberbullying have stronger views/opinions than those of children who have not: familiarity (51% vs. 35%), concern (44% vs. 23%) and belief that the issue is a serious problem at school (33% vs. 7%). 36% of parents don’t know if their child’s school has a formal policy.Among parents of kids who attend schools that do not have a formal policy, 49% believe this reason is because cyberbullying is “not a significant problem” or “not a high priority.”Just over half of educators (56%) have received cyberbullying training.Almost a third (29%) of educators says a formal policy doesn’t exist because cyberbullying incidents have not been reported.Among those educators not having received related training, 47% say it isn’t offered and 36% say the school/school district doesn’t consider cyberbullying a priority.

Executive Summary

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Educators who have taken steps to address cyberbullying believe those steps have been effective. Training was seen as the most effective, but is often available only at schools with a formal policy in place. Also, greater emphasis has been placed on training parents, teachers and administrators versus students.

89% of parents and 88% of educators believe their school policies are effective.96% of educators consider training very or somewhat effective. Other steps considered effective were setting up anti-bullying teams (95%), student outreach (93%) and Internet safety education (93%).Training is almost five times more likely at schools with a formal policy.Interestingly, when educators train others on cyberbullying, a greater emphasis has been placed on training parents (41%) and teachers/administrators (37%) versus students (28%).

Parents who take steps to address cyberbullying with their children believe most of those steps have been effective. While use of parental control software is not among the most popular, it is considered one of the most effective.

Top steps taken by parents to address cyberbullying were: discussing risks of being online (82%), monitoring their child’s usage (76%) and teaching their child online manners (66%). Use of parental-control software was lower by comparison (47%).Parents who used parental-control software believe it was one of the most effective methods (98%).

Executive Summary

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Help kids avoid cyberbullying:

Encourage children to make friends and look out for each other.Watch over kids. Ask about online activities and look for signs of online bullying. Talk with kids about cyberbullying. Encourage them to come to you and not to be bullies themselves—make the consequences clear; urge kids not to share personal information or devices that could be used to bully them.

What to do if someone is cyberbullying your child:

Act immediately by letting them know you can and will help.Acknowledge the pain. Affirm what happened isn’t right and that they’re not at fault. Tell your kids not to respond or retaliate, but save the evidence for authorities.Block anyone whose behavior is inappropriate or threatening.Report the problem. Consider reporting fellow students to the school. Report bullying on a website where the abuse occurred. (e.g. in Microsoft services or software look for a report abuse link or contact www.microsoft.com/reportabuse.)

Recommendations for Parents

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Develop and implement a formal policy for your school.Provide training on how to address cyberbullying for faculty and staff.Provide education for students and parents on:

What cyberbullying is and how it worksHow to help kids avoid cyberbullyingWhat to do if a child is a cyberbully or is being cyberbullied

Recommendations for Educators

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Cyberbullying tips: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/parents/social/cyberbullying.aspx

General online safety tips:http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Helpful resources on cyberbullying:

Follow us on Visit us on

Download Microsoft’s Fact Sheet on Cyberbullying

Helpful Resources

XPS PDF

Follow us on

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Appendix

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Cyberbullying is a familiar and concerning issue for parents & educators

Parents Teachers Vice Principals Principals

40% 47%35% 42%

50% 30%

26%28%

8%14%

16%

24%

2% 8%21%

5%

Familiarity with Cyberbullying

Not at all familiar Not very familiar Somewhat familiar Very familiar

0%

100%

31%

42%

20%

6%

Parents are concerned about cyberbullying

Not at all concerned Not very concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned

Q1. For purposes of this study, cyberbullying is defined as, “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.” Using this definition, how familiar are you with cyberbullying?

Q2. How concerned are you about the threat of cyberbullying impacting your child?

90% of parents say they are very or somewhat familiar with cyberbullying. Cyberbullying may be less of a concern for younger children and at private schools.

73% of educators say they are familiar with cyberbullying. Teachers and principals in this study are more likely to be from private, middle and junior high schools. Children in the parent sample are almost all in public school and skew toward high school.

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Parents tend to engage with cyberbullying after it touches their children

Very familiar Very concerned about the threat

Very serious problem @school

51% 44%33%35%

23%7%

Attitudes toward cyberbullying

Touched by cyberbullying Untouched by cyberbullying

Q1. For purposes of this study, cyberbullying is defined as, “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.” Using this definition, how familiar are you with cyberbullying?

Q2. How concerned are you about the threat of cyberbullying impacting your child?

Q7. How much of a problem do you believe are each of the following issues at your child's school?

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Cyberbullying touches 2 in 5 children

Yes, as a victim of cyberbullying

7%Yes, as someone

who was cy-berbullying

someone else 2%

Yes, both as a victim of cyber-bullying and as someone who

was cyberbully-ing someone else

12%

Yes, as a witness to other students

cyberbullying20%

No 58%

Cyberbullying Incidents

Q3. Has your child who attends <insert school type> ever been involved in a cyberbullying incident?

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Most parents take steps to address cyberbullying

Yes69% No

30%

Don't know1%

Have You Taken Steps to Address Cyberbullying?

Steps Taken to Address Cyberbullying

Discussed the risks of being online 82%

Monitored my child's online usage 76%

Taught my child online manners 66%

Discussed how to deal with cyberbullying 64%

Communicated clear rules and consequences for cyberbullying behavior to my children 54%

Limited the amount of time my child is online 50%

Used parental-control software to block risky sites 47%

Internet safety education 22%

Requested school to keep an eye on my child for in-school bullying/cyberbullying of others 14%

Requested school to keep an eye on my child for being the target of in-school bullying/cyberbullying 11%

Other 1%

Base 349

Q5. Which of the following steps have you taken to help address cyberbullying with your child?

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Using software is one of the most effective steps taken by parents

Steps taken by parents Effectiveness of steps taken

Step taken % Very effective Somewhat effective

Other 1% 80% 20%

Monitored my child's online usage 76% 70% 28%

Communicated clear rules and consequences for cyberbullying behavior to my children 54% 67% 32%

Used parental control software to block risky sites 47% 62% 36%

Limited the amount of time my child is online 50% 61% 37%

Internet safety education 22% 61% 37%

Requested school to keep an eye on my child for in-school bullying/cyberbullying of others 14% 60% 31%

Taught my child online manners 66% 58% 40%

Requested school to keep an eye on my child for being the target of in-school bullying/cyberbullying 11% 53% 35%

Discussed the risks of being online 82% 52% 44%

Discussed how to deal with cyberbullying 64% 51% 47%

Q6. For each of the steps you have taken, how effective do you feel each one has been at helping to address cyberbullying with your child?

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Steps taken by educators Steps taken or planned Effectiveness of steps taken

Have adopted

Plans to adopt Net Very

effective Somewhat

effective Net

Training for teachers & administrators 63% 27% 90% 49% 47% 96%Education for children 58% 32% 90% 31% 58% 89%Procedures encouraging expected behavior 56% 32% 87% 36% 54% 90%Education for parents 51% 33% 85% 39% 52% 92%Have a formal school policy 51% 36% 87% 41% 51% 92%Sponsor anti-bullying campaigns 51% 33% 83% 48% 42% 90%Internet safety education 50% 35% 85% 34% 58% 93%Enforcement of penalities 49% 37% 87% 40% 48% 89%Post staff to detect cyberbullying 46% 33% 80% 39% 51% 90%Support for victims 43% 39% 82% 35% 52% 88%Help cyberbullies 39% 35% 73% 29% 60% 88%Develop anti-bullying team 39% 36% 75% 39% 56% 95%Partner with NGOs 25% 39% 65% 36% 56% 92%Reach out to students to make them feel connected 25% 39% 65% 41% 52% 93%

Educators believe their actions to address cyberbullying are effective

Developing anti-bullying teams is one of the more effective steps but is ranked toward the bottom of steps taken or planned.

Q10. What are the biggest challenges your school faces when dealing with cyberbullying?

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Educators are more concerned with cyberbullying than parents

Problem @School - ParentsObesity 75%Drugs 65%Abuse (verbal, sexual, racial or all these in one?) 65%Smoking 65%Internet 63%Alcohol 57%Disrespect for teachers 55%Cyberbullying 55%Student tardiness 53%Drug abuse 51%Cheating 49%Student absenteeism 48%Pregnancy/Sexual promiscuity/STDs 48%Eating disorders 46%Assault/ Violence 45%Auto accidents 45%Plagiarism 40%Runaways 30%

Q7. How much of a problem do you believe are each of the following issues at your child's school?

Very or Somewhat Serious Problem %

Problem @School – Educators

Obesity 82%

Internet 81%

Student tardiness 79%

Abuse (verbal, sexual, racial or all these in one?) 78%

Cheating 77%

Cyberbullying 76%

Drugs 75%

Smoking 75%

Disrespect for teachers 75%

Plagiarism 75%

Student absenteeism 70%

Alcohol 69%

Eating disorders 67%

Drug abuse 64%

Pregnancy/Sexual promiscuity/STDs 62%

Assault/ Violence 62%

Auto accidents 54%

Runaways 48%

Q3_9. How much of a problem do you believe are each of the following issues at your school?

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More than 1 in 3 parents don’t know if the school has a formal policy

Yes; 48%

No; 17%

Don't know; 36%

Parents - Is there a formal policy at school?

Q8/Q11. Does your child’s <insert school type>have a formal policy in place to address cyberbullying issues between students?

Yes; 64%

No; 29%

Don't know; 7%

Educators - Is there a formal policy at school?

Parents under-report the existence of a formal cyberbullying policy at their child’s school.

17

Many parents put little thought into school’s cyberbullying policies

Does the school have a formal policy?

Does the school allow access to cell phones and laptops?

Know why the school doesn't have a formal policy?

Want the school to implement a formal policy

Should school discipline for off campus cyberbullying

36%

24%

17%

15%

14%

Knowledge about school policies

Total don't know

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Many schools allow access to cell phones & laptops to investigate cyberbullying

Yes; 53%

No; 23%

Don't know; 24%

Parents - Can the school access cell phones and

laptops?

Q9/Q12. Does the policy at your child’s <insert school type from S5b> allow the school to access to their cellphone or laptop when cyberbullying is suspected?

Yes63%

No28%

Don't know9%

Educators - Can the school access cell phones and

laptops?

19

Parents and educators consider school policies effective

Q5. How would you rate the effectiveness of the methods your school uses to help address cyberbullying?

Parents Educators

34% 28%

55% 60%

6% 8%5% 2%

Effectiveness of school policy

Not at all effectiveNot very effective Somewhat effectiveVery effective

Parents believe policies at public schools are more effective than private schools (42% vs. 35%), while educators believe the opposite (35% vs. 22%).

Parents and educators agree that school policies are more effective with younger children.

Parents Edu

Very effective in Jr. High 51%44%

Very effective in High school 24%16%

Q10. How effective do you feel the policy at your child’s <insert school type from S5b>has been at preventing cyberbullying?

20

Where schools have no cyberbullying policy, most parents want one

Q11. Why do you feel there is no formal policy at your child’s <insert school type from S5b> to address cyberbullying specifically?

Don't know14%

The existing policies are deemed ad-

equate 23%

The policy is being de-veloped

14%

Cyberbully-ing is not seen as a significant problem

29%

It’s not a priority

20%

Parents – Why is there no school policy?

Yes; 64%

No; 21%

Don't

know; 15%

Parents want a formal cyberbullying policy

implemented

Q12. Would you like to see your child’s <insert school type from S5b> implement a formal cyberbullying policy?

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Reason for no cyberbullying policy at school

1st Choice

2nd Choice

3rd Choice

No incident of cyberbullying has been reported yet 29% 12% 9%

Existing policies deemed adequate 9% 7% 13%Policy is under development 9% 7% 5%Don't know 9% 9% 9%Parents are reluctant to participate or provide support in building a formal policy 8% 12% 9%

School authorities fail to understand legal and psychological ramifications to deal with the issue of cyberbullying

7% 12% 9%

Not a priority 7% 16% 11%Lack of support from school district personnel 7% 8% 10%

Not seen as a significant problem 7% 9% 16%Lack of support from fellow educators 6% 6% 6%Other 1% 1% 2%

Educators cite lack of cyberbullying incidents as most common reason for no policy at their school

Q15. Why is there no formal policy at your school to address cyberbullying?

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Parents and educators agree on who is responsible for keeping kids safe from cyberbullying

Q14. How much do you think each group below is responsible for keeping children safe from cyberbullying? - parents

Parents

Schools

Law enforce

ment

Govern

ment

Socia

l Netw

orking si

tes

Technology c

ompanies

Other

53%

19%8% 7% 7% 5% 1%

40%

21%11% 10% 9% 8%

1%

Who is responsible?

Parents Educators

Q6. How much do you think each group below is responsible for keeping children safe from cyberbullying? - educators

23

Parents and educators are split about the role of schools in addressing cyberbullying that occurs off campus

Q15. Do you think that it is appropriate for schools to discipline students for cyberbullying between students that occurs outside of school grounds?

Parents Educators

43% 40%43% 44%

Discipline for cyberbullying that occurs off campus

YesNo

24Q16. Have you ever received training on how to handle cyberbullying?

Yes; 56%

No; 42%

Don't know; 2%

Over half of educators have received training

Training for cyberbullying is almost non-existent if the school doesn’t have a formal policy

School has a formal policy

School doesn't have a formal

policy

78%

15%

21%

85%

1% 0%

Training 5x more likely when the school has a formal policy

Don't knowNoYes

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Q17. When did you receive your most recent training on cyberbullying?

Within the last six months

46%

6-12 months ago41%

More than a year ago13%

Most received their training in the past

year

Schools and school districts provide the bulk of training on cyberbullying

Q18. Who delivered the training on cyberbullying?

Who delivered the training?

School 30%School district 30%Parent Teacher Association 8%

Online training various technological web sites

8%

Social networks 6%

Federal, State or Local Advocacy or Prevention Group

6%

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

5%

Self taught 4%Other 4%

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43%

53%

0%

Training is considered very useful

Not at all use-fulNot very use-fulSomewhat usefulVery useful

Educators consider training very useful

Reasons training hasn’t been available

School authorities did not offer any training 47%

School district did not provide funds for training 23%

District does not believe it is a priority 20%School does not believe it is a priority 16%Training was not free of cost 15%Training that is available is not very good 14%

No definitive guidance for school administrators, educators or schools 12%

I didn’t think it would be useful 10%Other 6%Don’t have time 3%

Q20. Why have you not received any training about cyberbullying?Q19. How useful was the training on cyberbullying?

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Yes, to parents

Yes, to teachers and administrators

Yes, to students

Yes, to another group

No, I have never given training

41%

37%

28%

1%

38%

Educators give training most often to parents and their colleagues

Q21. Have you ever given training to others about how to address cyberbullying?

28

Parents generally get the support they need, but would like more

Q17. To address the issue of cyberbullying at your child’s school, please indicate the extent of support you receive from each organization or group

School administration

PTA

Other parents

School district

Teachers union

NCPC

9%

6%

5%

7%

7%

5%

53%

50%

47%

46%

38%

35%

21%

21%

29%

27%

24%

22%

17%

23%

20%

20%

31%

38%

Too much About right Not enough Don’t know

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