Cyberbullying

With children online more and more, the bullies in the playground are being replaced by cyberbullies. Cyberbullying is using technology to intimidate, embarrass or threaten other kids. According to USA Today, most cyberbullies are between the ages of 9 and 14 and may be from affluent suburbs, where the use of wireless devices is high. Half of children surveyed by USA Today indicated they knew of someone, or had been the victim of cyberbullying. 

What is Cyberbullying? 

This type of harassment can include: 

• Posting embarrassing or humiliating pictures of someone online or sending them through email or cell phones
• Harassing someone with unwanted text messages or insulting messages
• Stealing passwords
• Sending computer viruses or spyware with the intent of either stealing passwords, using a computer by remote control or destroying someone’s hard drive
• Sending porn or other junk mail to someone else’s email address
• Posting embarrassing or hurtful things about someone in social networking sites
• Impersonating someone and posting humiliating things about him or her
• Text attacks where hundreds of texts are sent to someone to cause them to have a large phone bill
• Using text message or instant messaging to sent threatening messages
• Using blogs to ruin someone’s reputation or post insulting things about someone else

Many children feel helpless and do not report cyberbullying to their parents. They may feel as if there is nothing they can do. They may feel embarrassed and not want to go to school or avoid going online. Some children may not tell their parents because they are afraid their parents will no longer allow them to be online. They are left feeling helpless and hurt. 

Protecting Your Children Online 

Some schools are beginning to hold assemblies to inform students about cyberbullying and how students can protect themselves. With more information available, students may begin to feel more comfortable talking about it and going to a grown up for help. However, many times the cyberbullying takes place outside of school and therefore the schools are limited in what actions they can take. 

Some of the ways parents and students can help protect themselves against cyberbullying: 

• Talk to your children about cyberbullying. Let them know it is wrong. Let them know to come and talk with them if they are a victim of harassment. Let them know the consequences if they should be the one doing the harassing.
• If you believe the person harassing your child is from the same school, talk with the guidance counselor and let them know what is going on. They may be able to provide some type of assistance or talk with the students involved.
• Ignore all text messages or IM messages that can be considered cyberbullying. You should save the messages, but do not respond to them.
• Notify moderators or site owners where this is happening. Let them know the screen name of the person doing the posting. They can usually ban the person from posting anything more under that screen name.
• Save all texts, IM messages, blogs or posts on the internet to have them in case you need to contact law authorities if the harassment gets worse or does not stop.

Some forms of cyberbullying are against the law. Information on the Stop Cyberbullying Website can help you determine whether you should contact authorities.

See also:

Protecting Children Online

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