Cyberbullying A New Twist to an Age-Old Problem What Students Need to Know By Mary Alice Osborne SIS Bayside Librarian

What is Cyberbullying?

Betrayal A clique of 8th grade girls sleeping over at one friend’s house, pretend to befriend an unpopular girl on Instant Messenger. They persuade her to divulge her inner-most feelings, secrets, and crushes. The next day at school they show everyone a print-out of the conversation, and she is mortified.

A clique of 8th grade girls sleeping over at one friend’s house, pretend to befriend an unpopular girl on Instant Messenger. They persuade her to divulge her inner-most feelings, secrets, and crushes. The next day at school they show everyone a print-out of the conversation, and she is mortified.

A Breach of Privacy Marty, a high school junior, secretly takes a cell-phone photo of Joseph, an over-weight kid, who is undressing in the gym locker room. Within minutes, the photo is sent to Marty’s friends in English class. When Joseph finds out, he is so embarrassed he refuses to return to school.

Marty, a high school junior, secretly takes a cell-phone photo of Joseph, an over-weight kid, who is undressing in the gym locker room. Within minutes, the photo is sent to Marty’s friends in English class. When Joseph finds out, he is so embarrassed he refuses to return to school.

Unwanted and Threatening Postings 14 year old Joy has created a Web Blog, all about herself. An anonymous person starts posting threatening sexual comments with links to porn sites on her blog.

14 year old Joy has created a Web Blog, all about herself. An anonymous person starts posting threatening sexual comments with links to porn sites on her blog.

What is Cyberbullying? Using e-mail, chat rooms, websites and other forms of electric communication to: send mean-spirited messages make cruel and harmful remarks about individuals post unflattering or derogatory photos make direct threats or encourage acts of violence sexually harass

Using e-mail, chat rooms, websites and other forms of electric communication to:

send mean-spirited messages

make cruel and harmful remarks about individuals

post unflattering or derogatory photos

make direct threats or encourage acts of violence

sexually harass

Cyberbullying Cyberbullying is the repeated misuse of these technologies to harass, intimidate, bully, or terrorize another person .

Cyberbullying is the repeated misuse of these technologies to harass, intimidate, bully, or terrorize another person .

THE VICTIMS 12 year-old girl from Virginia: “ Being bullied makes me feel really bad, and I often get depressed later at home. I would also plot revenge and privately express my 'hatred' towards the bully, but I doubt I would really do anything about it...I don't usually go to adults to 'tattle' on people, even though I know it's not tattling, it's real.”

12 year-old girl from Virginia:

“ Being bullied makes me feel really bad, and I often get depressed later at home. I would also plot revenge and privately express my 'hatred' towards the bully, but I doubt I would really do anything about it...I don't usually go to adults to 'tattle' on people, even though I know it's not tattling, it's real.”

14 year-old girl from New Jersey: “ Being bullied over the internet is worse. It's torment and hurts. They say "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That quote is a lie and I don't believe in it. Sticks and stones may cause nasty cuts and scars, but those cuts and scars will heal. Insulting words hurt and sometimes take forever to heal.”

14 year-old girl from New Jersey:

“ Being bullied over the internet is worse. It's torment and hurts. They say "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That quote is a lie and I don't believe in it. Sticks and stones may cause nasty cuts and scars, but those cuts and scars will heal. Insulting words hurt and sometimes take forever to heal.”

14 year-old girl from Illinois: “I still cry when I think of what she said. After awhile you start believing all of the things people tell you that aren't true. When I look in the mirror I wonder if I'm fat (I'm not) after what my ex-friend said.”

14 year-old girl from Illinois: “I still cry when I think of what she said. After awhile you start believing all of the things people tell you that aren't true. When I look in the mirror I wonder if I'm fat (I'm not) after what my ex-friend said.”

15 year-old girl from the United Kingdom: “ One of my friends started hassling me on msn messenger; she was sending me nasty messages and text messages and this carried on at school. I told my parents, my friends, and a teacher. she was spoken to a few times but it still carries on a bit now but not as bad because i have blocked her online. This really affected me at home and at school; I couldn't concentrate on school work and I was always upset and down now I just ignore it and get on with it, I have plenty more friends and i don't need her anymore. Maybe one day she will give up and grow up.”

15 year-old girl from the United Kingdom:

“ One of my friends started hassling me on msn messenger; she was sending me nasty messages and text messages and this carried on at school. I told my parents, my friends, and a teacher. she was spoken to a few times but it still carries on a bit now but not as bad because i have blocked her online. This really affected me at home and at school; I couldn't concentrate on school work and I was always upset and down now I just ignore it and get on with it, I have plenty more friends and i don't need her anymore. Maybe one day she will give up and grow up.”

Ryan Patrick Halligan was bullied for months online. Classmates sent the 13-year-old Essex Junction, Vt., boy instant messages calling him gay. He was threatened, taunted and insulted incessantly by so-called cyberbullies. In 2003, Ryan killed himself. “ He just went into a deep spiral in eighth grade. He couldn’t shake this rumor,” said Ryan’s father, John Halligan, who became a key proponent of a state law that forced Vermont schools to put anti-bullying rules in place. He’s now pushing for a broader law to punish cyberbullying — often done at home after school — and wants every other state to enact laws expressly prohibiting it.

Ryan Patrick Halligan was bullied for months online. Classmates sent the 13-year-old Essex Junction, Vt., boy instant messages calling him gay. He was threatened, taunted and insulted incessantly by so-called cyberbullies.

In 2003, Ryan killed himself.

“ He just went into a deep spiral in eighth grade. He couldn’t shake this rumor,” said Ryan’s father, John Halligan, who became a key proponent of a state law that forced Vermont schools to put anti-bullying rules in place. He’s now pushing for a broader law to punish cyberbullying — often done at home after school — and wants every other state to enact laws expressly prohibiting it.

How Extensive is Cyberbullying? In a new survey of 5,500 teens by MindOh!, an educational company that studies youth trends, nearly 80 percent said they have read or spread gossip online; more than half said they had seen Web sites that made fun of their peers.

In a new survey of 5,500 teens by MindOh!, an educational company that studies youth trends, nearly 80 percent said they have read or spread gossip online; more than half said they had seen Web sites that made fun of their peers.

Who are the Cyberbullies? Individuals: with no strong relationships who are immature who are involved with hate groups who have been bullied themselves Cliques

Individuals:

with no strong relationships

who are immature

who are involved with hate groups

who have been bullied themselves

Cliques

THE OFFENDERS 15 year-old boy from undisclosed location: “Well the only reason I bullied is because the same person I was doing it to, did it to me like a week before. It wasn't the right thing to do but at the time it felt like I was getting revenge.”

15 year-old boy from undisclosed location:

“Well the only reason I bullied is because the same person I was doing it to, did it to me like a week before. It wasn't the right thing to do but at the time it felt like I was getting revenge.”

15 year-old girl from Canada: Sometimes I get insulted for no reason because i said my mind so then I get into a fight and feel good when i convince the person/change their perspective/prove I'm right because it shows I have an impact on people. Once I got into a huge fight because these girls were bullying one of my friends and I tried to tell them to stop resulting in them insulting me very badly but me getting insulting them all the same. They made threats to beat her up, what else could I do? They printed out what I said but not what they said and showed the principal. I got in a lot of trouble but talked my way out of it telling the TRUTH (something THEY didn’t do) and got let off with a warning.

Sometimes I get insulted for no reason because i said my mind so then I get into a fight and feel good when i convince the person/change their perspective/prove I'm right because it shows I have an impact on people. Once I got into a huge fight because these girls were bullying one of my friends and I tried to tell them to stop resulting in them insulting me very badly but me getting insulting them all the same. They made threats to beat her up, what else could I do? They printed out what I said but not what they said and showed the principal. I got in a lot of trouble but talked my way out of it telling the TRUTH (something THEY didn’t do) and got let off with a warning.

Why do people bully? Continuation of face-to-face bullying Anger Jealousy Peer pressure Fun

Continuation of face-to-face bullying

Anger

Jealousy

Peer pressure

Fun

Why the Internet can Foster Cyberbullying No tangible feedback Sense of being anonymous Multiple on-line personas Encouraged by role-playing games Sense of power No responsible adult in evidence

No tangible feedback

Sense of being anonymous

Multiple on-line personas

Encouraged by role-playing games

Sense of power

No responsible adult in evidence

Impact on Victims

Why is it so pervasive? With Cyberbullying, this is a 24/7 problem and often occurs in the supposed safety and security of the home. There is a social stigma attached to reporting these incidents to an adult - parent or teacher.

With Cyberbullying, this is a 24/7 problem and often occurs in the supposed safety and security of the home.

There is a social stigma attached to reporting these incidents to an adult - parent or teacher.

Adults may be out of the loop They aren’t paying attention! Teachers and Parents should: Know what kids are doing on-line. Keep computers in a public area. Periodically look at files on the computer Search for your child’s name on-line

They aren’t paying attention!

Teachers and Parents should:

Know what kids are doing on-line.

Keep computers in a public area.

Periodically look at files on the computer

Search for your child’s name on-line

Why Don’t Victims Ask for Help? Kids view the Internet is a lifeline to their peer group. Kids don’t want adults to know they have a problem with cyberbullying because they fear that adults will take their computer away.

Kids view the Internet is a lifeline to their peer group.

Kids don’t want adults to know they have a problem with cyberbullying because they fear that adults will take their computer away.

Don’t Be a Victim! Talk about bullying in general with friends, teachers and family. Discuss what personal information is appropriate to tell others, and what is not. Visit some popular teen sites with your parents, teachers, or friends and discuss what you see there and what could be a danger. Learn to develop realistic expectations for both personal and on-line relationships.

Talk about bullying in general with friends, teachers and family.

Discuss what personal information is appropriate to tell others, and what is not.

Visit some popular teen sites with your parents, teachers, or friends and discuss what you see there and what could be a danger.

Learn to develop realistic expectations for both personal and on-line relationships.

How to Stop a Cyberbully Tips from WiredSafety.org Be private - keep passwords, pictures and secrets to yourself. Take five - don’t reply in anger. Stop, block and tell - don’t reply, block the sender, tell someone. Save the evidence - on your computer or print out. Google yourself.

Be private - keep passwords, pictures and secrets to yourself.

Take five - don’t reply in anger.

Stop, block and tell - don’t reply, block the sender, tell someone.

Save the evidence - on your computer or print out.

Google yourself.

Have You Experienced Cyberbullying? Try this Cyberbullying Quiz from Wired Kids Website: http://www.wiredkids.org/ktt_universal/games/javascript/cyberbullying_quiz_1/index.html

Try this Cyberbullying Quiz from Wired Kids Website:

http://www.wiredkids.org/ktt_universal/games/javascript/cyberbullying_quiz_1/index.html

Steps to Take if you believe you have been a victim of Cyberbullying Determine if cyberbullying is actually going on. Save the evidence. Identify the sender - contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if necessary. Contact the offender’s parents - who may or may not be supportive. Back up your remarks with written evidence. Contact your school. If warranted, contact an attorney. Threats, extortion, sexual harassment should be reported to the police.

Determine if cyberbullying is actually going on.

Save the evidence.

Identify the sender - contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if necessary.

Contact the offender’s parents - who may or may not be supportive. Back up your remarks with written evidence.

Contact your school.

If warranted, contact an attorney.

Threats, extortion, sexual harassment should be reported to the police.

Online Resources about Cyberbullying WiredSafety.org: This website helps victims of all types of cyber crimes including cyberbullying. http://www.wiredsafety.org/youth.html Internet Super heros Website: Delivering smart, safe and responsible surfing messages to children, teens, schools and parents, online and offline. http:// www.internetsuperheroes.org / Cyberbullying Website, created by Bill Belsey as a partner site to http://bullying.org / http:// cyberbullying.org / Educator’s Guide to Cyberbullying, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use: explains cyberbullying and ways to stop it. http:// cyberbully.org/docs/cbcteducator.pdf News reports about Cyberbullying http://cyberbully.org/newsreports.html

WiredSafety.org: This website helps victims of all types of cyber crimes including cyberbullying. http://www.wiredsafety.org/youth.html

Internet Super heros Website: Delivering smart, safe and responsible surfing messages to children, teens, schools and parents, online and offline. http:// www.internetsuperheroes.org /

Cyberbullying Website, created by Bill Belsey as a partner site to http://bullying.org / http:// cyberbullying.org /

Educator’s Guide to Cyberbullying, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use: explains cyberbullying and ways to stop it. http:// cyberbully.org/docs/cbcteducator.pdf

News reports about Cyberbullying http://cyberbully.org/newsreports.html

Bibliography Koessler Family Library Media Center, Nardin Academy, Buffalo, NY. http:// www.nardin.org/Library/Cyberbullying_files/frame.htm Foiling Cyberbullies in the New Wild West . By Mark Franek, Educational Leadership; Dec2005/Jan2006, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p39-43, 5p. THE WEB: The Bully's New Playground, by Bob Meadows, Jenni Bergal, Steve Helling, Jennifer Odell, et.al., People; 3/14/2005, Vol. 63 Issue 10, p152-156, 4p, 6c

Koessler Family Library Media Center, Nardin Academy, Buffalo, NY. http:// www.nardin.org/Library/Cyberbullying_files/frame.htm

Foiling Cyberbullies in the New Wild West . By Mark Franek, Educational Leadership; Dec2005/Jan2006, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p39-43, 5p.

THE WEB: The Bully's New Playground, by Bob Meadows, Jenni Bergal, Steve Helling, Jennifer Odell, et.al., People; 3/14/2005, Vol. 63 Issue 10, p152-156, 4p, 6c