Cyber Bullying... A growing concern and a subject that must be targeted!

What is Cyber Bullying?

Childnet International Cyber-bullying Video- Great Example of what this is and how it effects students.

Cyber-bullying has been defined as… 

”When the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt 

or embarrass another person"Bullying can vary in degrees of severity. From continuing communication 

when asked to stop to sexual harassment and aims of humiliation through mass social media.  

A Growing Problem 

This issue of bullying has become such an issue that the President and First Lady feel the need to hold a conference to promote awareness and start a movement of anti-bullying no matter what type it is.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council  40% of students with internet access have reported 

being bullied online. Female students are more likely to be bullied than boys. Only 10% of those students 

reported in to a parent or another adult. 15% of parents feel they are “in the know about their child’s 

online activity. Social Networking Sites are overtaking Chat rooms as the origin of incidents.

For middle school age students and teenagers online, the fastest growing problems within the world of 

cyber bullying are:

• Stealing an individuals name and password to a social networking site, then using their profile to post rumors, gossip or other damaging information.
• Altering photographs using PhotoShop or other photo editing software in order to humiliate the individual.
• Recording conversations without the individual knowledge or consent, then posting the call online.
• Creating confrontational and mean-spirited online polls about the individual and posting them on different web sites.
• Using web sites and blogs to post hurtful, embarrassing information about another individual.

Social Implications

Victims have lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of emotional responses, 

retaliating, being scared, frustrated, angry, and depressed. One of the most damaging effects is that a 

victim begins to avoid friends and activities, often the very intention of the cyber-bully. We must be a

Be attentive to change in behavior of students. And come to grips that this is a real problem happening in 

our schools.Prevention is key to creating responsible “Cyber-Students” that will become responsible 

“Cyber-Citizens” someday.

Teaching to Prevent 

A whole school community approach must be taken in order to begin to prevent this growing problem. 

This program must incorporate elements at the individual, classroom, school wide, parent, and 

community level  to effectively prevent and intervene in cyber-bullying situations.

Another question lies in our authority to respond especially when it comes to events that occur out of the 

comfort of the classroom. We can respond to out of school student speech if that speech has caused, or 

could cause, a substantial disruption in school or interference with the rights of students to be secure.

 Encouraging peer witnesses to assist and report is very important. Peers are the ones who establish the 

social climate and norms and if they begin to denounce unacceptable cyber behavior then this issue will 

become less common.

Guidance 

Use a social norms approach for prevention education. Set up situations and realistic role playing 

scenarios to let students develop ways to defend and avoid these situations. Make sure students know 

how to prevent placing themselves at risk, such as not sending digital material others can distribute to 

embarrass them. Make sure they know how to effectively respond on their own, when they should ask 

for help, and what adults can do.

 Emphasize that cyber-bullying is not cool, it is cruel.

Resources to help should you run into a situation or have any 

questions about this growing educational concern.

Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use- this is the documents section of the website that has fantastic articles that can explain ways to prevent, combat, and legal issues to worry about especially as potential administrators.

National Crime Prevention Council-  a public advertising campaign aimed at preventing cyber-bullying, also some staggering statistics, and national contests for students to raise awareness.