Co-funded by the European Union

The challenge of cyber-bullyingCurrent situation and counter-measures

by the Safer Internet Centre GermanyVI. International Media Conference

26 – 28 September 2011Balatonalmádi, Hungary

Safer Internet DESebastian Holtz

Co-funded by the European Union

Safer Internet ProgrammIntroduction

Sebastian Holtz | VI. International Media Conference | 28.09.2011

The Safer Internet Programme aims at empowering and protecting children and young people online by awareness raising initiatives and by fighting illegal and harmful online content and conduct.

The Safer Internet Programme brings together stakeholders who can contribute to make the Internet safer: it funds, in particular, a network of NGOs active in the field of child welfare online, a network of law enforcement bodies who exchange information and best practices related to criminal exploitation of the Internet in dissemination of child sexual abuse material and a network of researchers who gather information about uses, risks and consequences of online technologies for children's lives. Industry-regulation is also encouraged.

Co-funded by the European Union

Safer Internet Centre GermanySegmentation

Sebastian Holtz | VI. International Media Conference | 28.09.2011

Awareness CentrePromoting media literacy / awareness raising

Hotlines

Helpline

Reporting illegal content

Counselling centre for children, young people and parents

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullying is the term used to describe the

intentional insulting, threatening, humiliation

or harassment of others using modern

communication technologies.

Cyber-bullyingDefinition

Sebastian Holtz | VI. International Media Conference | 28.09.2011

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullyingCharacteristics of cyber-bullying

Sebastian Holtz | VI. International Media Conference | 28.09.2011

Web 2.0 and mobile phone functionalities enable perpetrators

permanently (24-hour invasion of private life) and anonymously to create new bullying content and

make it accessible for others. Victims of cyber-bullying content gain knowledge

at a late stage or never. Online available and spreaded content (via mobile

phone) is very difficult to control: Within a short time period, thousands of people may see it, save it and make it available online again.

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullying

FlamingHarassment

Denigration

Impersonation

Outing and Trickery

Exclusion

Cyberstalking

Cyberthreats

Willard (2007)

Cyber-bullyingCharacteristics of cyber-bullying

Co-funded by the European Union

Media used in the context of cyber-bullying:

Source: Study on cyber bullying among school children, by University of Koblenz-Landau (ZEPF) in 2007

Cyber-bullyingMedia used

Co-funded by the European Union

Mobile phone:• Making repeated anonymous

calls and sending cruel messages (incl. threats, intimidation, insults)

Instant Messenger:• Sending cruel messages, images

or videos• Using a different account to send

malicious messages to the list of contacts

Cyber-bullyingMedia used

Co-funded by the European Union

Chatrooms Sending cruel or threatening anonymous

messages Groups, which deliberately ignore certain

persons Making friendships under false pretences

(in order to obtain personal information -> possible consequences: blackmail, libel)

E-Mail Sending cruel or threatening messages Sending unsuitable content (incl. videos,

images or even computer viruses)

Cyber-bullyingMedia used

Co-funded by the European Union

Video sharing websites: Publishing humiliating videos

about a person Uploading private recordings

after a separation in order to humiliate

Social network sites:• Writing cruel comments about

images or on pinboards• Creating a fake profile and

pretending to be a certain person, e.g. to cheat or humiliate someone

Cyber-bullyingMedia used

Co-funded by the European Union

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullyingProblems in communities

„There have been insults or wrong facts about me in social communities:“

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullyingProblems in communities

“Do you know anybody who has been bullied within your circle of friends?”:

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullyingWho are the perpetrators?

Study (2007) of the “Centre for Empirical Pedagogy Research” at the University Koblenz-Landau

Mostly schoolmates have been identified as perpetrators

Co-funded by the European Union

Klicksafe.deAwareness raising strategies by klicksafe

Co-funded by the European Union

Produce publications: e.g. Creation of guidelines on privacy protection settings within social network sites

Being proactive: Cooperation and regular consultations with social network sites provider in Germany

Build knowledge: Online/Offline seminars for teachers, parents (CT4P), multipliers on how to deal with cyber bullying (preemptive measures, counter-measures)

Counter measuresWhat klicksafe does

Co-funded by the European Union

Informing about the phenomenon „cyber-bullying“

Informing about and explaining safety measures

Informing about what persons concerned can do (how to contact service providers, block contacts)

Advising about alternative possibilities for consulting and assistance

Counter measuresRaising awareness – building knowledge

Co-funded by the European Union

• For teachers teaching kids > 7th grade

• Six lesson sheets• Content:

– What is cyber-bullying? – Cyber-bullying at school – How to deal with cyber-bullying? – What to do if you are affected– What does the law say?– How do I contact service

providers?– Where do I find help– Links and further reading

Counter measuresRaising awareness – Cyber bullying teaching module

Co-funded by the European Union

https://www.klicksafe.de/materialien/index.html

Cyber-bullyingRaising awareness – Guidelines for social networks

Co-funded by the European Union

Social CommunitiesNovember 2009

Data ProtectionFebruary 2010

Cyber-bullyingTeaching Modules

Co-funded by the European Union

Handouts for parent-teacher conferences

klicksafe-brochures

Cyber-bullyingTeaching Modules

Co-funded by the European Union

Cyber-bullyingRaising awareness - Website

Co-funded by the European Union

Köszönöm a figyelmet!Thank you for your attention!

Safer Internet DESebastian Holtz+49 (0)621 52 02 116holtz@lmk-online.dewww.saferinternet.de