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Cyber bullying(What you want to know)

& Cyber threats

Kelly Schermerhorn

Model Schools

August 17, 2010

Games in Education Symposium

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Cyber bullying

What it is, who is involved, What it is, who is involved, where it is, where it is,

and how it affects YOU!and how it affects YOU!

What we can do about it?What we can do about it?

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What is it?

Cyber bullying is the use of electronic means to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or otherwise target another person.

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Where is it found?

E-mailsE-mailsInstant messagingInstant messagingText or digital imaging messages sent on Text or digital imaging messages sent on cell phonescell phonesWeb pages,Web pages,Web logs (blogs)Web logs (blogs)Chat rooms or discussion groupsChat rooms or discussion groupsOther information communication Other information communication technologiestechnologiesPlus more…Plus more…

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Where is it found? (continued)

Significant amount occurs off-campus, Significant amount occurs off-campus, but it is impacting student relationships but it is impacting student relationships on-campuson-campus

Bypass Internet filter/proxy sitesBypass Internet filter/proxy sites

Use cell phones or other digital devicesUse cell phones or other digital devices

This raises liability concerns.This raises liability concerns.

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Some technologiesBlogsWeb + Log = weblog, or we blog

Blogs are easily created and easily updated sites.

If you can email, you can blog.

Blogs allow visitors to comment.

Example: www.weblogg-ed.com

Wikis/PodcastsPodcasts are blogs with audio or video.

Podcasts are like Internet radio or TV shows.

Anyone can be a producer.

Podcasts are consumed on demand.

Examples: www.epnweb.org

Wikis are websites anyone can edit.If you can word process, you can use a wiki.

Visitors can see a history of changes and revert to earlier versions.

Example: www.wikipedia.org

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Types of cyber bullying

Flaming (sarcasm) Harassment Denigration (dissin’) Impersonation Outing (telling a secret) Trickery Exclusion (keep out of the loop) Cyber stalking Trash talking

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1995-2010

2 million children accessed the Internet in 1995 (worldwide)

This number climbed to 4 million in 1996

The number exceeded 28 million in 2000; 45 million in 2002; 77 million in 2005-what do you think it is today?

56 % of youths have access in their bedroom now (2010-cyberbullying.us)

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Terms of use

Cyber bullying is a violation of the"terms of use" of most service providers– Will respond by removing such harmful

content and terminating the membership of the offending poster

– But educators, parents, and students must file a complaint

File a complaint by providing the harmful messages and ask that the account be terminated and any harmful material be removed

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Cyber threats

Threats or distressing material General statements that make it sound

like the writer is emotionally upset and may consider harming someone else, harming himself or herself, or committing suicide

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Who are Cyber bullies?

May be known to the victim or a online stranger

May be anonymous and enlist others, including online “friends”

May be related to fights about relationships May be based on hate or bias Some teens think cyber bullying is a game

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Teenagers might think…

They think they are invisible, so they think they can’t be punished

No real harm has been caused online They should have free speech right to

post whatever they want, regardless of the harm caused

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Warning signs

Sadness or anger after Internet use Withdrawal from friends and activities School avoidance, decline in grades,

and depression Possible indicators that the child is

being bullied at school

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IT IS A CRIME!!!

HARASSMENTPost something in public

3rd Degree Misdemeanor – 1 year in jail $2,500 fine

STALKINGSeveral communications are sent directly to

victim

1st Degree Misdemeanor – 5 Years in jail $10,000 fine

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“Bullycide”

A new word developed when a person commits suicide due to bullying

3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 25 year olds and 6th leading cause

among 5 to 14 year olds Half of all bullying incidents go

unreported

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Some recent cyber bullying cases in the news

Ryan Halligan – 13 yrs old, Vermont- Classmates spread rumors he was GAY- Female befriended him for his secrets- Posted to internet- Committed suicide Ghyslain Raza – “Star Wars Kid”, Canada- Overweight and slightly awkward teenager- Video of himself playing with a play light saber- Classmates found & posted to internet- Finished school year in a psychiatric ward- Internet’s most downloaded video for 2006- Phoebe Prince -15 yrs old, Massachusetts- Moved from Ireland to Massachusetts last summer (2009)- Nine teens are charged with her suicide- Hung herself and still taunted after her death

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Megan Meier Megan – 13yrs old, Missouri- Suffered from depression and attention deficit

disorder- Met “Josh Evans”, 16 – cyber friend on her MySpace

site- Josh ended their friendship – heard she was “cruel”- Electronic postings about her “fat”, “slut”- Josh commented" This world would be better off without her”- Committed suicide Oct 16, 2006

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Megan Meier

Lori Drew – 49 yrs old, Mo- AKA – “Josh Evans” with co-conspirators - Ashley

Grills- May 15, 2008 indicted – Federal Grand Jury- One count conspiracy (5yrs)- Three counts accessing protected computers without

authorization (5yrs each count)- Fraudulently use of an account to cause harm- Violated MySpace “terms of Service”- Grand Jury in Los Angeles, Ca – Jurisdiction- Ashley Grills – granted immunity.

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Have you heard of..

Jeff Weise Pekka-Eric Auvinen Dillon Cossey Dylan Klebold & Eric Harris

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How about now?

Jeff Weise - Red Lake-murdered 9, injured 5 @ Red Lake Indian Reservation in MN

Pekka-Eric Auvinen – Jokela-murdered 8, injured 12 in Finland

Dillon Cossey – Plymouth- Whitemarsh-accused of plotting a “Columbine-style” event (Mother bought rifle and gunpowder)

Dylan Klebold & Eric Harris – Columbine HS-murdered 13 students and 1 teacher-extensive planning

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What can we do?

We can not control the children – we must educate

• Balanced approach – policies may be too rigid• Set rules and limits to Internet use• Guide students to GOOD content/ethical

usage• Help teachers and parents educate children

about safe, responsible uses of the internet• Foster appropriate use of the internet among

pre-schoolers and other young students

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What else…

Use the Internet for education-related activities, not recreational use or as a baby sitter

• Use the Internet to communicate to the parents and students (websites, homework, e-mail)

• Engage the community

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Situation review

Imminent Threat of Violence or Danger.• Gather evidence – screen shots,

emails…• Violence or suicide assessment• Cyber bully assessment – can the

school respond?

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What can teachers do?

Communicate with students• Communicate with other educators / Lawyer• Communicate with IT• Communicate with the police• Communicate with the parentsContact the Service provider• Confront students who are behaving inirresponsible, inappropriate, or unsafeways. *Do not look the other way*

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Student’s perspective

Utah student creates video and wins “Predator” http://

internetsafetyadvisor.squarespace.com/predators/

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Resources

http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/http://www.cyberbully.org/http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullyinghttp://www.cyberbullying.us/http://123elearning.wikispaces.com/cyberbullying+presentationhttp://123elearning.wikispaces.com/onlinesafetyhttp://www.ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/http://www.cybersmartkids.com.au/http://www.protectkids.com/http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/kidz.htm http://www.safesurf.com/http://www.cybersmart.org/for/students.asphttp://www.isafe.org/http://www.webwisekids.org/http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/net_safety.html

http://www.cyberbullying.us/http://www.cscic.state.ny.us