Internet Safety and Internet Safety and AwarenessAwareness

Cyberbullies and PredatorsCyberbullies and Predators

Enfield High School Enfield High School Computer NetworkComputer Network

An Area of Concern for An Area of Concern for Student Using the InternetStudent Using the Internet

CyberbulliesCyberbullies

What is Cyberbullying?

Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images

Posting sensitive, private information about another person

Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad

Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

Cyberbullying is distinguished from face-to-face bullying in four

ways:

Students who are victimized have no place to hide, and can be targeted anytime and anyplace.

Cyberbullying can involve a very wide audience.

Students who cyberbully others are anonymous.

Students who cyberbully do not usually see the response of the victim.

How Common Is How Common Is Cyberbullying?Cyberbullying?

These are the results from a survey of students These are the results from a survey of students

from middle school:from middle school:

90% of the students using the Internet have been insulted 90% of the students using the Internet have been insulted onlineonline

75% have visited a Web site insulting another student75% have visited a Web site insulting another student

40% had been locked out of their own accounts by a 40% had been locked out of their own accounts by a cyberbully who had stolen their passwordcyberbully who had stolen their password

Only 15% of their parents knew what a cyberbully does.Only 15% of their parents knew what a cyberbully does.

Cyberbullying is a School and Community Issue.

Bullying at school, at home, and online are all connected.

Bullying is about the abuse of power.

Using the Internet, e-mail or text messaging to threaten, hurt, single out, embarrass, spread rumors or reveal secrets about

others are allconsidered cyberbullying.

Children who are a part of face to face bullying are more likely to be involved in cyberbullying.

Some victims of face-to-face bullying become bullies online.

Examples of a CyberbullyExamples of a Cyberbully

Stories posted on a blog site that are untrue and Stories posted on a blog site that are untrue and demeaning.demeaning.

Photos taken with a cellphone or camera that are Photos taken with a cellphone or camera that are posted to a social chat space.posted to a social chat space.

E-mails that are intended to upset someone.E-mails that are intended to upset someone.

Sending Instant Messages that are demeaning, Sending Instant Messages that are demeaning, insulting, or threatening.insulting, or threatening.

Effects of Bullying

Victims of Cyberbullies are more likely to:

Be depressed, lonely, anxious

Have low self-esteem

Be absent from school

Feel sick

Consider making bad decisions

The Tragic Effect of a The Tragic Effect of a CyberbullyCyberbully

Megan Meier was 13 years old when she Megan Meier was 13 years old when she became the victim of a cyberbully.became the victim of a cyberbully.

Ryan Halligan was also 13 years old when he Ryan Halligan was also 13 years old when he became the victim of cyberbullies.became the victim of cyberbullies.

To learn more about their storiesTo learn more about their stories click on one of the links below.click on one of the links below.

Megan MeierMegan MeierRyan HalliganRyan Halligan

What Can You Do If You Are a What Can You Do If You Are a Victim of a Cyberbully?Victim of a Cyberbully?

Do not respond to the cyberbully.Do not respond to the cyberbully.

Inform your parents and school officials.Inform your parents and school officials.

Block further online communications.Block further online communications.

Save evidence to identify the bully.Save evidence to identify the bully.

Contact police if there are threats of Contact police if there are threats of violence, extortion, hate crimes or sexual violence, extortion, hate crimes or sexual

exploitationexploitation..

An Area of Concern for An Area of Concern for Student Using the InternetStudent Using the Internet

Online-PredatorsOnline-Predators

What is an Online Predator?What is an Online Predator?

An An online predatoronline predator is an Internet is an Internet user who will exploits someone, user who will exploits someone,

usually a younger person, usually a younger person,

for sexual or possibly financial for sexual or possibly financial purposes.purposes.

What Does An Online Predator Do?What Does An Online Predator Do?

Online predators try to gradually Online predators try to gradually seduce their targets through seduce their targets through attention, affection, kindness, attention, affection, kindness,

and even gifts, and often devote and even gifts, and often devote considerable time, money and considerable time, money and energy to gain this person’s energy to gain this person’s

trust.trust.

Where Does the Predator Make Where Does the Predator Make Contact?Contact?

Predators establish contact with Predators establish contact with their victims through their victims through

conversations in chat rooms, conversations in chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail or instant messaging, e-mail or

discussion boards. discussion boards.

How to Avoid PredatorsHow to Avoid Predators

Do not give out last names, addresses, passwords or Do not give out last names, addresses, passwords or social security numbers to anyone.social security numbers to anyone.

Do not list personal information on a social website.Do not list personal information on a social website.

Block instant or personal messages from people you Block instant or personal messages from people you don't know. don't know.

Be aware that when anyone enters a chat room, their Be aware that when anyone enters a chat room, their email can end up on a spammer's list. email can end up on a spammer's list.

Choose a gender-neutral screen name that doesn't Choose a gender-neutral screen name that doesn't contain sexually suggestive words or reveal personal contain sexually suggestive words or reveal personal information.information.

The Tragic Effect of an The Tragic Effect of an Online PredatorOnline Predator

Christina Long was the victim of an Christina Long was the victim of an online predator. To learn about what online predator. To learn about what

happened to her click on the link happened to her click on the link below.below.

Christina LongChristina Long

What to Do If Inappropriate What to Do If Inappropriate Material Is ReceivedMaterial Is Received

If you receive sexually explicit images, are solicited If you receive sexually explicit images, are solicited sexually, or receive material that is inappropriate, sexually, or receive material that is inappropriate, follow these steps:follow these steps:

Inform your parents immediately.Inform your parents immediately.

You and your parents inform a school administrator. You and your parents inform a school administrator.

Your parents should contact the local police. Your parents should contact the local police.

(You can also report incidents to the Cybertip! (You can also report incidents to the Cybertip! hotline at http://www.cybertip.ca) hotline at http://www.cybertip.ca)

American Library Association

Anti Defamation League (ADL)

Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use

NS Teens (NetSmart)

Pew Internet and American Life Project

Wired Safety

The following are websites that can provide information

about internet safety: