Cyber bullying involves using electronic means like email, text messages, social media to harass, threaten or embarrass someone. It is a growing problem, especially among teenagers who have widespread internet access. Some signs of cyber bullying include sadness after internet use or declining school performance. While some teens see it as harmless, it can have serious consequences like suicide. Educators need to teach safe internet use, communicate with students and parents, and work with authorities if threats are made to help address this issue.

1. Cyber bullying (What you want to know) & Cyber threats Kelly Schermerhorn Model Schools August 17, 2010 Games in Education Symposium

2. Cyber bullying What it is, who is involved, where it is, and how it affects YOU! What we can do about it?

3. What is it? Cyber bullying is the use of electronic means to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or otherwise target another person .

4. Where is it found? E-mails Instant messaging Text or digital imaging messages sent on cell phones Web pages, Web logs (blogs) Chat rooms or discussion groups Other information communication technologies Plus more…

5. Where is it found? (continued) Significant amount occurs off-campus, but it is impacting student relationships on-campus Bypass Internet filter/proxy sites Use cell phones or other digital devices This raises liability concerns.

6. Some technologies Wikis are websites anyone can edit . If you can word process, you can use a wiki. Visitors can see a history of changes and revert to earlier versions. Example: www.wikipedia.org Wikis/Podcasts Podcasts are blogs with audio or video. Podcasts are like Internet radio or TV shows. Anyone can be a producer. Podcasts are consumed on demand. Examples: www.epnweb.org Blogs Web + Log = weblog, or we blog Blogs are easily created and easily updated sites. If you can email, you can blog. Blogs allow visitors to comment. Example: www.weblogg-ed.com

7. Types of cyber bullying Flaming (sarcasm) Harassment Denigration (dissin’) Impersonation Outing (telling a secret) Trickery Exclusion (keep out of the loop) Cyber stalking Trash talking

8. 1995-2010 2 million children accessed the Internet in 1995 (worldwide) This number climbed to 4 million in 1996 The number exceeded 28 million in 2000; 45 million in 2002; 77 million in 2005-what do you think it is today? 56 % of youths have access in their bedroom now (2010-cyberbullying.us)

9. Terms of use Cyber bullying is a violation of the "terms of use" of most service providers – Will respond by removing such harmful content and terminating the membership of the offending poster – But educators, parents, and students must file a complaint File a complaint by providing the harmful messages and ask that the account be terminated and any harmful material be removed

10. Cyber threats Threats or distressing material General statements that make it sound like the writer is emotionally upset and may consider harming someone else, harming himself or herself, or committing suicide

14. Who are Cyber bullies? May be known to the victim or a online stranger May be anonymous and enlist others, including online “friends” May be related to fights about relationships May be based on hate or bias Some teens think cyber bullying is a game

15. Teenagers might think… They think they are invisible, so they think they can’t be punished No real harm has been caused online They should have free speech right to post whatever they want, regardless of the harm caused

16. Warning signs Sadness or anger after Internet use Withdrawal from friends and activities School avoidance, decline in grades, and depression Possible indicators that the child is being bullied at school

17. IT IS A CRIME!!! HARASSMENT Post something in public 3rd Degree Misdemeanor – 1 year in jail $2,500 fine STALKING Several communications are sent directly to victim 1st Degree Misdemeanor – 5 Years in jail $10,000 fine

18. “Bullycide” A new word developed when a person commits suicide due to bullying 3 rd leading cause of death among 15 to 25 year olds and 6 th leading cause among 5 to 14 year olds Half of all bullying incidents go unreported

19. Some recent cyber bullying cases in the news Ryan Halligan – 13 yrs old, Vermont Classmates spread rumors he was GAY Female befriended him for his secrets Posted to internet Committed suicide Ghyslain Raza – “Star Wars Kid”, Canada Overweight and slightly awkward teenager Video of himself playing with a play light saber Classmates found & posted to internet Finished school year in a psychiatric ward Internet’s most downloaded video for 2006 Phoebe Prince -15 yrs old, Massachusetts Moved from Ireland to Massachusetts last summer (2009) Nine teens are charged with her suicide Hung herself and still taunted after her death

20. Megan Meier Megan – 13yrs old, Missouri - Suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder Met “Josh Evans”, 16 – cyber friend on her MySpace site Josh ended their friendship – heard she was “cruel” Electronic postings about her “fat”, “slut” Josh commented" This world would be better off without her ” Committed suicide Oct 16, 2006

21. Megan Meier Lori Drew – 49 yrs old, Mo AKA – “Josh Evans” with co-conspirators - Ashley Grills May 15, 2008 indicted – Federal Grand Jury One count conspiracy (5yrs) Three counts accessing protected computers without authorization (5yrs each count) Fraudulently use of an account to cause harm Violated MySpace “terms of Service” Grand Jury in Los Angeles, Ca – Jurisdiction Ashley Grills – granted immunity.

22. Have you heard of.. Jeff Weise Pekka-Eric Auvinen Dillon Cossey Dylan Klebold & Eric Harris

23. How about now? Jeff Weise - Red Lake-murdered 9, injured 5 @ Red Lake Indian Reservation in MN Pekka-Eric Auvinen – Jokela-murdered 8, injured 12 in Finland Dillon Cossey – Plymouth- Whitemarsh-accused of plotting a “Columbine-style” event (Mother bought rifle and gunpowder) Dylan Klebold & Eric Harris – Columbine HS-murdered 13 students and 1 teacher-extensive planning

24. What can we do? We can not control the children – we must educate • Balanced approach – policies may be too rigid • Set rules and limits to Internet use • Guide students to GOOD content/ethical usage • Help teachers and parents educate children about safe, responsible uses of the internet • Foster appropriate use of the internet among pre-schoolers and other young students

25. What else… Use the Internet for education-related activities, not recreational use or as a baby sitter • Use the Internet to communicate to the parents and students (websites, homework, e-mail) • Engage the community

26. Situation review Imminent Threat of Violence or Danger. • Gather evidence – screen shots, emails… • Violence or suicide assessment • Cyber bully assessment – can the school respond?

27. What can teachers do? Communicate with students • Communicate with other educators / Lawyer • Communicate with IT • Communicate with the police • Communicate with the parents Contact the Service provider • Confront students who are behaving in irresponsible, inappropriate, or unsafe ways. * Do not look the other way*

28. Student’s perspective Utah student creates video and wins “Predator” http://internetsafetyadvisor.squarespace.com/predators/

29. Resources http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/ http://www.cyberbully.org/ http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying http://www.cyberbullying.us/ http://123elearning.wikispaces.com/cyberbullying+presentation http://123elearning.wikispaces.com/onlinesafety http://www.ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/ http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/ http://www.cybersmartkids.com.au/ http://www.protectkids.com/ http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/kidz.htm http://www.safesurf.com/ http://www.cybersmart.org/for/students.asp http://www.isafe.org/ http://www.webwisekids.org/ http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html http://www.cyberbullying.us / http://www.cscic.state.ny.us