EXPECT RESPECT

Cyberbullying

What Makes Cyberbullying Different from Other Bullying?
Many aspects of cyberbullying make it unique and potentially more harmful and problematic than traditional bullying. The sense of anonymity provided by screen names or other virtual identities allows bullies to distance themselves from the situation, often making them less inhibited in their cruelty toward their victims (Keith & Martin, 2005) and less aware of the consequences of their actions (National Crime Prevention Council, 2009). This anonymity also provides an easy opportunity for bullies to falsify their identities or impersonate others. The effects of cyberbullying can also be more widespread than traditional bullying, as electronic information is so easily disseminated beyond its intended audience. In this way, cyberbullying is persistent and often indelible and irreversible.

While both boys and girls engage in cyberbullying, research indicates that girls are often more likely than boys to become involved in it, as both perpetrators and victims (Keith & Martin, 2005). When acting as the perpetrators of bullying, girls are more likely than boys to display “relational bullying,” where they engage in “the hurtful manipulation of peer relationships/friendships that inflicts harm on others through behaviors such as ‘social exclusion’ and ‘malicious rumor spreading’” (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Online, this abuse is carried out mainly through instant messaging, online conversations (chatting), and e-mails.
 
Facts About Cyberbullying
In a survey of more than 1,500 youth in grades 4–8, conducted by i-SAFE America Inc. (2004), students reported the following:

• 58 percent said that someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online
• 53 percent reported having said something mean or hurtful to another person online
• 58 percent said that they have not told their parents or another adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online

Similar to traditional bullying, cyberbullying appears to increase in elementary school, peak during middle school, and decline in high school.
 
What Can Parents Do?
Since most cyberbullying occurs outside of school on family-owned mobile phones and computers, parents have a great deal of responsibility for addressing this problem. However, this may be easier said than done. Most parents do not want to believe that their child is capable of being a perpetrator, and few parents realize how common cyberbullying actually is. In addition, teenagers often demand Web privacy from their parents, making it particularly challenging to monitor their Web activity.

Still, there are a number of things that parents can do to help prevent cyberbullying in their own homes:

• Understand what cyberbullying is and how technology can be used to bully others. The technology divide between generations can make this difficult, but the more educated parents are, the more likely they are to notice when their children are bullying or are being victimized.
• Contact the Internet service provider (ISP) and learn about the ISP’s recommendations and regulations against cyberbullying. Ask what parental controls the ISP offers that would allow parents to monitor their children’s Internet activities.
• Learn what their children are doing online and be comfortable talking to them about it. Be clear about which sites on the Internet they can visit (and which sites are off-limits), what they can do there, and how much time they can spend online (Beale & Hall, 2007).
• Talk to their children about what to do if they receive or see a cyberbullying message. Parents might suggest that their children ignore the posting or that they calmly but firmly ask the cyberbully to remove the harmful material (Storey et al., 2008).
• Remind their children to protect their personal information by not sharing private information, such as their full names, addresses, phone numbers, or passwords.
• Notify school officials if there is an incident that involves the school and/or other children at school.
• Save ongoing harassing messages so they can be reported to e-mail services, ISPs, Web sites, cell phone companies, etc. Cyberbullying is typically a violation of the “terms of use,” and violators are often subject to adverse action (Anti-Defamation League, n.d.).
• Keep computers used by children in common areas of the home (Health Resources and Services Administration, n.d.).
• Look for signs that a child might be a victim of cyberbullying, for example, having sleeping problems, avoiding school or falling behind in homework, acting sad or withdrawn, exhibiting mood swings, showing a sudden disinterest in computers, rapidly switching screens when a parent enters the room, becoming anti-social, or crying for no apparent reason.

(taken from www.promoteprevent.org)

Additional Resource:

www.promoteprevent.org
www.powertolearn.com/parents/index.shtml