What is Cyberbullying?

ByMiss Garza

Think About It One day you like someone. The next day you don’t. Angry, you

say something or post something online. It gets passed around quickly and easily. So now, everybody knows about it and everybody talks about it in school. While maybe you are mean only once, when you do it online your posting or message is repeated again and again as it gets passed around. Meanness multiplies.

When kids are intentionally and repeatedly mean to one another using cell phones or the Internet, it’s called cyberbullying. Sometimes kids can handle cyberbullying and not get too upset. Other times, it can make kids feel angry, frustrated, sad, or afraid.

Definition from Webopedia.com

Slang term used to describe online harassment, which can be in the form of flames, comments made in chat rooms, the sending of offensive or cruel e-mail, or even harassing others by posting on blogs, Web pages or social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook or MySpace. Unlike physical bullying, cyberbullying can often be difficult to track as the cyberbully — the person responsible for the acts of cyberbullying — can remain anonymous when threatening others online.

Definition from Wikipedia.comCyber bullying (cyberbullying, cyber-bullying, online

bullying) is the use of electronic information and communication devices such as e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, mobile phones, pagers and defamatory websites to bully or otherwise harass an individual or group through personal attacks or other means. (Wikipedia)

Definition from Miss GarzaIs the use of technology to harass, bully, threaten or

intimidate others

Types of Technology Used in Cyberbullying

Cell phones (voice or text)IMingPostings on websitesPostings on social network sitesMessages to social network sitesEmail

Cyberbullying FactsCyberbullies can communicate their hurtful messages to a very wide

audience with remarkable speed.

Cyberbullying is also different in that it is a particularly cowardly form of bullying. Cyberbullies can more easily hide behind the anonymity that the Internet can provide.

Cyberbullying can happen any time and any place and for many children, home is no linger a refuge from negative peer pressure such as bullying.

Cyberbullies do not have to own their actions, as it is usually very difficult to identify cyberbullies, so they do not fear being punished for their actions.

http://www.cyberbullying.org/pdf/Cyberbullying_Information.pdf

Statistics on Cyberbullying42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it

happen more than once.35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it

happen more than once.21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other

messages.58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them

online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another

person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean

or hurtful that happened to them online.

Based on 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students grades 4-8

Types of Cyberbullies

Type 1: “The Vengeful Angel”The cyberbully doesn’t see themselves as a bully at all.

They see themselves as righting wrongs, or protecting themselves or others from the “bad guy” they are now victimizing.

The “Vengeful Angel” cyberbully often gets involved trying to protect a friend who is being bullied or cyberbullied.

Type 2: “The Power Hungry” and “Revenge of the Nerds”

“Power Hungry” cyberbulliesNeed an audienceWant to exert their authority; show that they are powerful

enough to make other do what they want have often been the victim of typical bullyingHave greater tech skills than others

Aka “Revenge of the Nerds” cyberbullyThis type of bully typically works in secret/doesn’t tell others

what he/she is doingRarely see the seriousness of their actionsMost dangerous of all cyberbullies!

Type 3: “Mean Girls”Happens with cyberbully is bored or looking for

entertainment

Ego-based and most immature of all cyberbullying types

Typically female cyberbullies

Victims are typically other girls, but can also be boys

Sometimes done as a group (physically or virtually)

Type 4: “The Inadvertent Cyberbully”Doesn’t think they are being a cyberbully

May pretend to be tough online, role playing or reacting to hateful or provocative messages

Don’t typically lash out intentionally

Tend to respond in anger or frustration

Sometimes send out cyberbullying communication without understanding how serious this could be

Sometimes send communication that they think is funny or a joke but the receiver interprets as cyberbullying [lack of body language]

Are typically surprised when someone accuses them of cyber-abuse

Victims of CyberbullyingCyberbullies know their victims, but their victims may not

know their cyberbullies.

Victims of bullying are often fearful of telling others about being bullied because they fear that the bullying may actually become worse if they tell.

Victims of cyberbullying are often also afraid to report to adults about being cyberbullied, as they also fear that adults will over-react and take away their mobile phone, computer and/or Internet access.

http://www.cyberbullying.org/pdf/Cyberbullying_Information.pdf

Ways to Prevent Being a Victim to a CyberbullyNever give out personal

information PIN numbers, passwords,

login IDs…Don’t believe everything

that you readUse good NetiquetteNever open a message from

someone you don’t knowDon’t gossip online or

offline

Be nice to people in the “real world”Real world issues become

intensified on the internetTrust your instincts

If it doesn’t look or feel right, than it probably isn’t!

Unplug once in a whileIt is okay not to answer a

message/text right awayEnjoy your unplugged life

with real friends and family

2nd per

Ways to Prevent Becoming a CyberbullyUse good NetiquetteNever send a message to someone when you are angryUnplug once in a while

It is okay not to answer a message/text right awayEnjoy your unplugged life with real friends and family

Don’t post anything about anyone that you wouldn’t want posted about yourself

Don’t share or upload pictures of others without their permission

Talk out issues with friend or family before taking on cyberbully behavior

If you feel you are being Cyberbullied:

DO FIRSThttp://prezi.com/xgw4d503vlp0/

Scenarios for Practice

Scenario 1Sondra is planning a slumber party to celebrate her birthday. Her parents have set a limit of eight girls, so Sondra can’t invite everyone she’d like. Two girls who are left out overhear the plans. Angry, they plan their revenge. The girls make a “We Hate Sondra Jones” Web site. They say that anyone invited to the party should not go. They tell everyone in school the site’s address. The girls invite everyone to add new reasons why they hate Sondra and to spread ugly rumors about her. When Sondra hears about the site, she gets a sick feeling in her stomach. Unable to ignore it, she checks the site often. Each day she finds a new nasty comment or joke about her. She feels hurt and powerless to defend herself. Sondra is too embarrassed to go to school and tells her parents she is sick.

If you were Sondra’s friend, what advice would you give her?

Scenario 2For the tenth day in a row, Andrew opens an e-mail that says, “I’m getting closer.” He doesn’t recognize the sender’s address. He wonders if someone at school is trying to scare him. On the other hand, it could be a stranger. Whatever the source, Andrew is scared. The next afternoon, Andrew is home alone. The e-mails come every few minutes. “I’m hiding in your house using a wireless Internet connection. You’ll never find me. But I’ll find you.” Frozen with fear, Andrew can’t think what to do.

If he called you for advice, what would you tell him?

Scenario 3

Jaleesa and Kim are friends at Jefferson Middle School. Kim tells Jaleesa that she doesn’t want to hang out with her any more. Jaleesa is angry and upset. She uploads a photo of Kim from her cell phone that was taken at a slumber party two weeks earlier. Jaleesa sends the photo to everyone on her buddy list with a message attached: “Kim is such a ****.”

What’s the Problem? How do you think Kim felt?

What might the kids who received the e-mail think or do?

Scenario 4 Ian made a plan to get back at Mike for telling some personal secrets about him. He created a fictional profile on a social networking site so he could carry on a fake online romance with Mike. The cyber romance went on for weeks. Mike was hooked by a person he thought was a student at a neighboring high school, a friend of his friends. At that point, Ian told all their friends about his trick on Mike. When asked why he did it, Ian said, “To teach him a lesson.”

Was Ian justified in teaching Mike a lesson?

How do you think Mike felt when he found out his “relationship” was only a cruel trick?

What problems might result due to Ian’s actions? What advice could you give Ian about self-control and respect?

What advice could you give Mike?

Consider if Ian had told some other friends what he was doing. What could these bystanders have done?