Cyber Bullying:Not Something To Be

Ignored

A Presentation By Tyler Mulford

What Is Cyber Bullying?

• Hateful comments via IM, email, postings on websites or live online journals

• The Internet is used as a device to target peers with the usual motive of humiliating, degrading, shocking, shaming, or ruining another (socially, emotionally, or indirectly physically)

Forms of Direct Attacks

• Instant Messaging• Stealing Passwords• Blogs• Web Sites• Sending Pictures Via E-mail• Internet Polling• Interactive Gaming• Sending Malicious Code• Sending Porn/Junk E-mail or IMs• Impersonation

Cyber Bullying By Proxy

• “Warning” or “Notify Wars”• Pretend to be victim or post info about

victim in hate group or child molester chat rooms

• Pretends to be victim and says hurtful things to victim’s friends thus making victim appear to be “bad guy”

• Angers victim to the point where victim is mean back (uses victims anger to get victim in trouble with parent, teacher, or ISP)

General Dangers Of Internet& Ways to Protect

• Know that communication online can be misinterpreted

• Email is not private (messages can be forwarded)

• Don’t say online what you wouldn’t say in person

• Know safe, acceptable sites & stick to those• Never share passwords or personal information• Don’t join in (regarding cyber bullying)—voting

in a mean poll is just as bad as creating poll

Additional Online “Etiquette”• Make sure you send things to correct person

and correct place.• Make sure what you send is worth sending

(Don’t send junk mail, chain mail, or spread rumors)

• Proofread emails & Make sure the person you send them to knows who you are

• Don’t attack or insult online• Don’t forward others emails or IMs or share their

personal information• Don’t say anything private online, it can easily be

shared• Don’t reply to spam for any reason

If You Are Cyber Bullied[Immediate Action]

• STOP! Don’t do anything. Calm down.

• BLOCK! Block cyber bully from your buddy list or online experience.

• TELL! Tell trusted adult.

What Can Parents Do?To Prevent Cyber Bullying

• Get involved in your child’s internet activities and be aware

• Place time limits on time spent on computer and designate specific times for computer use

• Put computer in common room of house (to observe child’s emotions when online)

• Educate children on dangers of internet• Check recently visited sites of children

What Can Parents Do?If Their Child is Bullied

• Create a secure & supportive environment

• Parents need to be a trusted place for children to turn to and must not overreact

• Respect the fact that cyber bullying is something that can have a lasting negative impact on your child. If your child comes to you, do not brush him or her off.

If Child is Bullied…

• If personal contact information of your child has been posted or threats have been made, contact local police.

• Forward harassing messages to Internet Service Provider and block any screen name or email address who is bullying your child

• Brainstorm new activities for child that do not involve internet

What Can A School and Other Groups of Authority In A

Community Do As A Whole?• Develop school policy involving cyber

bullying and consequence

• Inform local police, parents, children, and administrators about cyber bullying

• Implicate positive, proactive, preemptive program to end cyber bullying in community

• Computer instruction in schools should include bullying preemption, ethics, and online character