With technology on the rise, bullying has
become much easier not only to participate in, but also to stop or intervene.
As with technology, social networking websites have grown over the past few
years. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, social networking websites
allow us to reveal personal information, as well as beliefs and pictures that
can be viewed by both friends and people we do not know. These different
networks allow the possibility of cyber bullying to occur much more frequently.
Cyber bullying is a huge issue right now because of all the
technological resources and the social networking websites we have available,
both at home and at school. Cyber bullying occurs when a child is tormented,
threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another
child using the Internet, interactive and/or digital technology, or mobile
phone. Some
forms of cyber bullying can include e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms/ bash
boards, and text messages. These forms of cyber bullying mentioned above can
also happen when kids are alone, and may cause emotional distress when an adult
is not around to talk to about it. Below is an example of a typical cyber
bullying situation:
Amy was at home on Saturday night with her friend Angela,
who came over to watch a movie. When Angela arrived, Amy changed her Facebook
status to say: “Watching a movie with my girlfriend.” Erica (Amy and Angela’s)
classmate got online and immediately commented on the status, calling Amy a
“lesbo.” Erica then proceeded to text her boyfriend and other classmates,
letting them know that Amy and Angela were “gay” and dating each other. At
school on Monday, everyone was pointing at the two of them and whispering
behind their backs. When she got home, Amy had six new posts on her Facebook
wall calling her “gay,” a “lesbian,” and other derogatory comments about her
sexuality. Her mother called the school to report the incident so the
administrators would be aware of what was going on in case it continued.
Ways to prevent or decrease cyber
bullying:
· Place /
keep computer(s) with Internet access in an open, commonly used space.
· Never
give out personal information or passwords, P.I.N. numbers etc. Personal information includes your name,
the names of friends or family, your address, phone number, school name.
Personal information also includes pictures of yourself and your e-mail
address, even when registering a product purchased for your computer (like a
game). Passwords are secrets, you should never tell anyone your password except
your parents or guardian.
· Don't
believe everything you see or read on the Internet. Just because someone online
tells you that they are fifteen doesn't mean they are telling the truth. Even
adults can't always tell when a someone pretends to be another person or if a
50 year-old pretends to be a 15 year-old.
· Use
manners. Be polite to others
online just as you would off-line. If someone treats you rudely or meanly - do
not respond. Online bullies are just like off-line ones – they want to see a
reaction (don't give them the satisfaction).
· Don't
send a message to someone else when you are angry. Wait until you have calmed
down and had time to think. Do your best to make sure that your messages are
calmly and factually written. We say a lot of things when we are angry that we
don’t mean or later on regret. It is hard to undo damage that an angry message
can cause.
· Don't
open a message from someone you don't know. If in doubt, ask some such as
your parents, guardian, or another adult.
· If it
doesn't look or feel right, it probably isn't. Trust
your instincts. We often can tell if something is off, so it is important to
listen to your instinct and not ignore those feelings. While surfing the
Internet, if you find something you don't like and it makes you feel
uncomfortable or scares you, turn off the computer and tell an adult.
· You
don't have to be “Always Online.” Turn
off, disconnect, unplug, and try actual reality instead of virtual reality. Give
yourself a break. Spend time with your family and friends off line, it is often
more fun anyway.
Note: the above statements were referenced from Cyberbullying.org
For more information on Acception’s
solution-based approach to bullying prevention in
the classroom, visit www.Acception.info
