High Technology Brings Cyberbullying

There was a time when the term "bullying" was used, one thought about the kid on the playground or in the schoolyard who was a little bigger, a little meaner, and a lot more violent than those he targeted. He pushed, shoved, punched, and verbally assaulted anyone that he perceived as weaker than himself.

In this age of high tech gadgets, the cowardly bully has the means to expand his method of attacking, demeaning, humiliating, and stressing his victim. Although the playground and schoolyard variety of bullying still occurs, for this discussion we will focus on bullies who use technology as a tool to victimize others. Using technology as a tool in acting out this abusive behavior is called "cyberbullying."

Defining Cyberbullying

Using a computer or cellular phone to send hateful, abusive, harmful, humiliating, harassing, and/or threatening messages or images with the intent to cause emotional stress or imply the threat of physical violence is the act of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullies will often pretend to be someone else by creating fictitious screen names or even stealing an other's identity. Bullies no longer have to meet their victims in face to face confrontations. They can commit their cowardly acts by using text messages, instant messaging, e-mail, and social networking websites. They can and do spread rumors, lies, reveal personal information, and post unauthorized photographs all over the world wide web, where it can all be accessed by anyone that has a computer. One devastating aspect of this is that the victim's family, friends, schoolmates, and community also have access to these items.

Many young people have used their cell phones to secretly take photographs in what we normally consider a private setting(a bedroom, bathroom, etc.), and posting these unauthorized pictures on the Internet. Quite often, the victim does not know the perpetrator's identity and just as often does not know why he or she has been targeted.

The threat of the schoolyard bully might at least be limited to time spent at school, whereas the threat from the cyberbully is twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. In other words this type of attack is unrelenting and is the same type which drove Phoebe Prince(pictured above) to suicide in January of this year. The threat and possibility of this same outcome is just as real for thousands of our children world wide.

A Few Numbers

1) Fifty percent more girls are victims of cyberbullying than are boys.

2) As many as thirty-three percent of young people have been victimized by cyberbullies at one time or another.

3) Thirteen percent of young people had learned that a cyberbully pretending to be them was verbally abusing someone.

4) Seventeen percent of teens were victimized by someone lying about them online.

5) Over eighty percent of teens think that cyberbullies victimize others because they think their actions are funny and don't realize how serious the consequences can be.

The Victim's Part

1) Do not respond to text messages, instant messages, e-mails, or websites sent or created by the cyberbully.

2) Do save those messages, e-mails, and web site addresses as evidence. They are the foot prints left behind by the perpetrator. Not much can be erased, once in print on the web.

3) Tell a trusted adult about this problem. Start with your parents and a teacher that you can confide in.

4) Never divulge any personal information about yourself online such as; full name, your parents' names, school name, credit card, or social security number.

5) Share your password with parents only, not friends or acquaintances.

6) Never meet anyone face to face, whose friendship you acquired online.

7) Communicate with your parents, let them know what you are doing online.

The Parents' Part

1) Parents need to communicate with as well as listen to what their children have to say.

2) Set ground rules for Internet use that both parents and children can live by.

3) If your child is victimized by a cyberbully (or any bully) make him or her feel protected. Lay the groundwork to insure that this is a reality.

4) Get school officials involved to help put a stop to the bullying. The numbers of schools employing bully prevention programs is increasing.

5) Get the parents of the perpetrator involved, if his identity is known.

6) If necessary get the police involved, don't let the situation get out of hand.

The School's Part

1) Schools should educate students on safe online activity and responsible behavior while using the Internet.

2) Students should be educated in what bullying entails, since it is abusive behavior it is increasingly being viewed as  criminal in nature.

3) School officials should review their harassment and bullying policies to be sure that cyberbullying is also included.

A Few Words

Research of many bully prevention programs has found that the "Olweus Bully Prevention Program" developed in Norway, has the most solid track record in deterring bullying. In many cases it has reduced bullying by fifty percent. It has been implemented in several states thus far. More information on this program can be found at: http://www.fightcrime.org

We can all do our part to minimize this serious and dangerous threat to our young people. We have previously discussed what the victim, parents, and school officials can do. It was a general guideline with all roles capable of being expanded. Two other vital components needed in stopping this behavior are Internet Service Providers (ISP)s and cellular phone companies. Their cooperation is needed in aggressive investigation and follow up of complaints lodged against alleged cyberbullies.