CyberbullyingDonna Kozica, LCSWSocial Work Department Chairperson

The use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. By definition it occurs among young people.

When an adult is involved, It may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time.

What is Cyberbulling?

Types of Cyberbullying

• Flaming: online fighting using electronic messages that include angry and vulgar language

• Harassment, threats, and stalking: repeatedly sending cruel, vicious, or threatening messages (including sexual harassment)

• Denigration: sending or posting gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships

Types of Cyberbullying (cont)• Impersonation: using another person’s e-mail

account to send harmful material or leading a victim into a hurtful or embarrassing situation by pretending to be someone else

• Outing or trickery: engaging someone in instant messaging, tricking him or her into revealing sensitive information, and forwarding that information to others

• Exclusion: Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

Who are the victims?

A 2006 poll from the national organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids found that 1 in 3 teens and 1 in 6 preteens have been the victim of cyberbullying

The increase in cell phone use and computers is likely to make this number increase

Warning Signs of Cyberbullying:

• Emotional distress during or after using internet or phone

• Being very protective or secretive of digital life• Withdrawal from friends and activities• Avoidance of school or group gatherings• Slipping grades and “acting out” in anger • Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite

What is the impact of cyberbullying ?

• Anxiety• Depression• Low self-esteem• Physiological complaints• School avoidance and school failure

What is the added impact of the lack of face to face contact?

• Greater psychological harm because hurtful information can be transmitted broadly and instantaneously and can be difficult to eliminate!

• Anonymous quality can make a teen hypervigilant

• Aggressors feel shielded from consequences so they say and do things they would not do in person causing greater impact to victim

What can parents do to safeguard their kids?• Keep computers in easily viewable places, such as

family room or kitchen. NOT IN BEDROOM!• Talk regularly about their online activities and

responsibility. Make sure they know the risks of cyberbullying and that they need to tell you if they are being bothered.

• Respect their privacy but let them know you may view their online activity if you are concerned.

• Set clear expectations for responsible online behavior and phone use. Outline consequences!

What can parents do? (cont)• Be aware of the bullying warning signs.• Consider installing parental control software and

tracking programs, but do not solely rely on them.• Be equally alert your child is bullying others even if

unintentionally!• Document any bullying.• Contact the school and enlist the help of school

personnel.

What can parents do? (cont)

• File a complaint with the Web site, flag it, Block user, or contact cell phone company.

• Contact the police if cyberbullying includes threats.

• Consider establishing a parent-child Internet Contract

Internet Safety Education Is Mandated

• Addressed in grades 3-12 yearly• Policies in place to address Cyberbullying

Competencies For Good Decisions

Resources

• Family Online Safety Institute, www.fosi.org• National Association of School Psychologist, • www.nasponline.org • http://www.netsmartz.org/Presentations• www.SafeKids.com • www.atg.wa.gov • http://sociallyactive.com(Socially active is the leading provider of social-privacy

monitoring software for parents)