A Survey Analysis Carol M. Walker, MEd, MADoctoral Candidate, IUP

◦ The use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging, personal Web sites or blogs and online personal polling Web sites. The technology is used to promote deliberate, repeated and hurtful behavior by an individual or group, with the intent to harm others (Haber & Haber, 2007, p. 52).

◦ Cyberbullying should be considered the use of interactive technologies such as social networking sites, cell phones (text, video, voice, or picture messaging), instant messaging, or other newly developed technology-based communication tools. These tools are used to repeatedly deliver slanderous, hurtful, obsessive, or obscene messages that result in harm to the recipient (Walker, 2010.

Cyberbullying DefinedCyberbullying Defined

Who? Why?

CyberbullyingCyberbullying

Growth in technology◦ Cell phones◦ Social Networking

Age

Extent◦ Varies greatly

Age and Extent of Age and Extent of CyberbullyingCyberbullying

Theory◦ Social Dominance Theory

Survey◦ 27 item survey◦ 6 Demographic and 21 cyberbullying

120 undergraduate college students◦ 70 female, 50 male: age 18 – 24

16% live at home, 53% on campus housing, and 31% off campus but not at home

Grades: 51% A-B, 47% B-C, 2% C-D

Technology use:◦ 14% between 1 & 2 hours daily◦ 31% between 3 & 4 hours daily◦ 55% over 4 hours daily

54% of respondents know someone who has been cyberbullied

100% of male respondents know someone who has been cyberbullied

Technologies used: Facebook (56%), Cell Phones (45%), AIM (43%) most frequently reported

11% of participants reported being cyberbullied ~ 43% of them 4 or more times

Statistically significant results:

Suicidal ideation Eating disorders Chronic illness Depression (often long-term) Low self-esteem Poor academic performance Problem behaviors Drinking and drugs

Psychological Impact Psychological Impact

Several court cases to date◦ J.S. v. Bethlehem Area School District◦ Layshock v. Hermitage School District◦ Emmett v. Kent School District

Legal IssuesLegal Issues

Gather all forces

System level◦ Establish guidelines for appropriate use of

computer networks

Classroom Interventions◦ Incorporate lessons on cyberbullying ◦ Implement effective social skills and conflict

resolution

Intervention and Intervention and PreventionPrevention

1. Don’t engage the person2. Print everything out3. Change your screen name4. Don’t share personal info in chat rooms5. Identify the sender6. Contact the service provider7. Think before you send8. Parents, get involved9. Teachers, get involved10. Comprehensive action is neededStover, D. (2006) www.eddigest.com

Prevention techniques for Prevention techniques for studentsstudents

Enhancing Child Safety & Online Technologies◦ December 2008◦ http://wiredsafety.org/resources/pdf/

2009_isttf_final_report.pdf Wired Safety

◦ http://wiredsafety.org/ iSafe

◦ http://www.isafe.org/ National Criminal Justice Reference Service

◦ http://www.ncjrs.gov/InternetSafety/cyber.html Stop Bullying Now

◦ http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/default.aspx Stop Cyberbullying

◦ http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/cyberbullying/for_educators.html

Strom, P. & Strom, R. (2005) When teens turn cyberbullies. Education Digest, 71(4), 35-41

Stover, D. (2006). Treating cyberbullying as a school violence issue. School Board News, 26 (8)

Mason, K.L. (2008). Cyberbullying: A preliminary assessment for school personnel. Psychology in Schools 45(4), 323-348

Pickett, A.D., & Thomas, C. (2006). Turn off that phone. American School Board Journal