Electronic Aggression

ByMary HerreraKristen DedmonDavid HapenneyYuwadee Nuengchamnong

What is it?

electronic aggression: any kind of aggression perpetrated through technology—any type of harassment or bullying (teasing, telling lies, making fun of someone, making rude or mean comments, spreading rumors, or making threatening or aggressive comments) that occurs through email, a chat room, instant messaging, a website (including blogs), or text messaging.

Facts

It is commonly called: Cyberbullying, text harrassment, digital abuse

The incidence of cyberbullying is higher among females than males; and is most prevalent among 15 and 16-year-olds, particularly among girls.

Answer

Slightly more than four in ten teens (43%) report that they have experienced some form of cyberbullying in the last year.

What does it look like?

Nearly 20 percent of teens had a cyberbully pretend to be someone else in order to trick them online, getting them to reveal personal information.

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

Thirteen percent of teens learned that a cyberbully was pretending to be them while communicating with someone else.

Ten percent of teens were victimized because someone posted unflattering pictures of them online, without permission.

The Effects

Young people who are victims of internet harassment are significantly more likely than those who have not been victimized to use alcohol and other drugs, receive school detention or suspension, skip school, or experience in-person victimization.

Teens report a wide range of emotions as a result of experiencing cyberbullying from anger to embarrassment to indifference. Over half of cyberbully victims report feeling

– angry (56%); – one-third report feeling hurt (33%); – a third report being embarrassed (32%),– and one in eight said they felt scared (13%).

Why do people use electronic aggression?

Most teens believe that people cyberbully for one (or more) of these reasons: – “they think it’s funny” (81%); – “they simply don’t like the person” (64%); – “they view the victim as a loser” (45%).– Nearly six in ten teens (58%) said the

cyberbully “probably didn’t see the action as a big deal.”

Nearly half of teens said that cyberbullying happens because the cyberbully doesn’t perceive any tangible consequences (47%) or feels he or she would not get caught (45%).

In recent news

President Obama has discussed the issue at the White House Bullying Prevention Summit.– “This isn’t an issue that makes headlines every day,

but it affects every single young person in our country,” Obama saidRead more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/10/obama-ready-rumble-cyberbullies/#ixzz1KMWWnWiP

Video cyberbully mom– http://www.cbsnews.com

/video/watch/?id=4102134n

Health Standards

Mental, Emotional, and Social Health 7.4.M Practice respect for individual

differences and diverse backgrounds. 8.3.M Object appropriately to teasing of

peers and community members that is based on perceived personal characteristics and sexual orientation.

Use in the classroom

English – Cause and Effects Essay on Electronic

Aggression– Speech/Debate– Survey– Create an multimedia presentation to promote

cyber respect

Prevention and Help

Tips– Explain that youth who cyberbully sometimes bully because they

have a feeling of anonymity and a lack of accountability; however, cyberbullying is harmful and can have negative consequences

– Explain that youth who cyberbully aren’t always anonymous; they can be traced, located, and punished if the bullying becomes harassment

www.stopcyberbullying.org: Provides relevant cyberbullying prevention and Internet safety information for parents, teachers, and police officers, as well as children and youth.

www.stopbullyingnow.org: Includes information for adults regarding cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying. The site also offers information for children ages 10 to 12 regarding bullying.

Resources

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/YVP/electronic_agression_brief_for_parents.pdf

http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/bullying/cyberbullying.pdf

http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/bullying/Teens%20and%20Cyberbullying%20Research%20Study.pdf

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4102134n