A serious post today.
This term is becoming increasing familiar, and no one is immune to this type of bullying. It’s the anonymity and speed ( a click of a button) that make this form of bullying so easy and appealing for many people. Many of us have heard of teens being bullied this way, but adults are just as susceptible. Make sure to check out the web link (in blue) to access the cyberbullying website. I found it while writing about the topic for one of my M.Ed classes.
Here are a few facts:
In schools cyberbullying is difficult to police and often done off-campus, so that school officials have no jurisdiction. This cruel techno stalking takes many ingenious forms, leaving adolescents miserable, frightened and confused.
Flaming or trolling is an interaction between internet users that is antagonizing and insulting. It occurs on Internet Relay Chats, discussion boards, e-mail and video-sharing websites.
Cyberbullying is called cyberstalking when the perpetrator is an adult.
Reasons for cyberbullying include:
- anger
- revenge
- frustration
- meanness
- boredom
- wanting to get a reaction
- trying to help a victim
Cyberbullies tend to suffer from:
- depression
- emotional distress
- low self-esteem
- poor academic achievement
- poor or severe parental discipline or nurturance
The website stopcyberbullying.org is a comprehensive site that addresses many issues concerning cyberbullying and I encourage you to visit the site. It’s user-friendly and educational.
The site lists 4 kinds of cyber bullying:
1. The vengeful angel: Thinks they are correcting a wrong or helping a friend
2. The power hungry: An attempt to flex their (technical) muscle and skill
3. Mean girls: A form of cruel entertainment
4. The inadvertent bully: One who doesn’t think about what they have written before hitting “send”
Unlike traditional bullying, the written cyber-form is especially dangerous because posts can be read over and over again, and be seen by thousands of people.
Forms of direct bullying forms include:
1. Instant/text messaging harassment
2. Stealing passwords
3. Hateful blogging
4. Adding victims to dangerous or illegal websites
5. Sending malicious pictures thru e-mail and cell phones
6. Internet polling hate lists
7. Abusive name calling while interactive gaming
8. Sending malicious code
9. Sending porn and other junk email
10. Impersonating the victim to do any of the afore mentioned activities
The increase in cyberbullying has caused Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington to pass laws which allow school districts to develop policies about the detection and consequences of cyber bullying. California lawmakers passed laws allowing schools to suspend or expel students who cyberbully.
Cyberbullying responses:
- Ignore
- Vet and/or restrict friends, buddy lists
- Block the sender
- Warn the sender
- Report to ISP
- Report to school and/or police
- Take legal action
Some password safety tips:
1. Never give out your password
2. Remember your secret answer
3. Do not use passwords based on personal information
4. Use a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols
5. Change passwords often
6. Never give your password over email
7. Make your own acronym
8. Do not leave passwords in obvious locations
9. Do not use passwords on computers in internet cafes, airports, etc,
10. Do not use the same password for all accounts.
If you are a student victim of cyberbullying, contact your teacher, counselor, administrator, or SRO and keep all evidence. It’s fairly easy for law enforcement to track the cyberbully.
For more extensive information
please visit the website link highlighted in blue.
