Cyberbullying:Implications & Responses

Adrienne Katz Regional AdviserWest Midlands

• Cyberbullying first emerged as an issue

in 2002 (NCH)

Threats or bullying by mobile or on PC

experienced by 1 in 4 of 856 people, 11 -19

Exciting enabling technology but there are risks

Was this replacing age old prank phone calls?Or something more serious?

• In 2003 research confirmed this as a new form of bullying, although numbers were small (Oliver & Candappa) 1,200 yrs 5 & 8

• 4% had received nasty text messages

• 2% nasty emails

• SHEU found 2% of nearly 10,000 year 6 reported bullying via mobile phone

• By 2005: a picture of girls of 15 using phones for nasty messages (Sugar)*

• 16% sent them, nearly 1/2 received them.

• NCH: 770 people, age 11-19, found:

• 20% had experienced some bullying or threat via email, chatroom or text.

• 14% text bullying

• Internet chatrooms 5% and email 4%

In the NCH study: Almost ¾ knew the person, but 1 in 4 saidit was a stranger.We began to become aware of risks.Same year: Goldsmiths College: 92 pupilsFrom 14 London schools.Up to 1 in 5 experienced bullying via phone or netPicture clips, texts, emails and some chatroom

bullying.

In 2005 Becta – 444 schools teachers in 25 LAs• 87% of teachers: no incidents in average month• 11% encountered between 1 and 5 per month• Less than 1% more than 11 per month• Older age groups and girls more likely.• 15.5% of teachers did encounter 1-5 incidents

involving websites chatrooms or emails.• 83% of teachers: not aware of any incidentsWas it being exaggerated? Are they telling?

Discussion of types of cases seen

Complex video clips & ‘Happy Slapping’

• Adults slow to realise implications until teachers were targeted.

• Dis-inhibiting effect of being unseen

• ‘Remote’

• Humiliating – enormous reach

• Teens not aware of electronic footprint left

• Little robust research, media creates fear

Emerging Fear Media Hype

Now:

understanding responses evaluating practical steps

MSN, websites, videoclips, social networking, outweigh emails and texts as ‘most hurtful’.

Principles of bullying the same, but new tools -greater power, secrecy and reach - humiliate

• Guidance - Childnet and CEOP• Protection from Crime and Harassment Act• Malicious Communications Act 1988• Section 43 Telecommunications Act• Byron report• Work with providers• Blocking technology growing• Training for Safeguarding, netiquette, responseshttp://wiredforsafety.org.gb/stalking/index.html

What is the most recent local picture?

We all ask the questions in different ways so nothing is comparable.

• In West Midlands figures ‘appear’ low but certain cases can be very serious.

• Wide gap between adult/parent understanding and what young people say (Get I.T.Safe NCH & Tesco 2006)

• 30% bullied by mobile, by email or on the net (small in-depth Midland survey August 2008 ongoing).

• Of 2132 young people, well over 90% said it had never happened to them (2007) asked:

‘nasty messages or pics by text/email and nasty calls to mobile.’ No net?

• Are new forms not being captured?

• 1/3 children regularly blog

• 67% of parents don’t know what blog is

• 46% of kids can get round parental blocks

• 53% of children are unsupervised online

• 78% of children use IM

• 29% of parents don’t know what IM is

Content, Contact, Commerce, Compulsion• (Get I.T.Safe NCH & Tesco 2006)

Excellent resources available

www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications

Ref DCSF-00685-2007

www.digizen.org.uk Childnet

CEOP Becta Byron report

Local resources: Sandwell

Action points: what would you want to see?

Educate adults – parents, carers, managers and staff in residential settings.

Educate young people to be e-safe, consider e-footprint, the law, unsafe contacts, giving out personal data, hurting others.

Develop better monitoring tools

Evaluate what we do – Keep up!

• Start younger

• Look at clubs

• Social networking

• Websites, blogs

• Misuse of photos

• Embed ‘Safe To

Learn’

Anti Bullying work is about • Inclusion• Participation• Equality• Rights• Citizenship

How we want our communities to be

adrienne@abawestmidlands.org.uk