The New Bullies on the Internet

By: Kaitlyn Sassone

“Cyberbullying is defined as any cyber-communication or publication

posted or sent by a minor online, by instant messenger, e-mail,

website, online profile, handheld device, cell phone or other interactive

device that is intended to frighten, embarrass, harass or otherwise

target another minor.”

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying Videos

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/cyberbullying/

http://www.tweenangels.org/video_animation/cyberbullying_video.html

Examples of Cyberbullying . . .

Instant Message Chat:

BabyGirl: Hey, dork, watch your back!!NmS23: What r u talking about?BabyGirl: Why don't you just run away?NmS23: Why can't you just leave me alone?BabyGirl: Ugly girls like u need to be put in their place.

Chat rooms E-mailInstant MessagingFacebookText MessagingBlogsCell Phones

Technologies Used for Cyberbullying

“Flaming’: Online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language

“Harassment”: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages

“Cyber stalking”: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating. Engaging in other on-line activities that make a person afraid for his or her own safety

“Denigration”: ‘Dissing’ someone online. Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships

Nancy Willard’s 8 Forms of Cyberbullying

“Impersonation”: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes that person look bad, gets that person in trouble or danger, or damages that person’s reputation or friendships

“Outing and Trickery”: Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information which is then shared online

“Exclusion”: Intentionally excluding someone from an on-line group, like a ‘buddy list’

Nancy Willard’s 8 Forms of Cyberbullying

oEvery school should have an AUP that outlines what is and is not the permitted use of the school’s technology and computer systems.

oParents and students should read and sign the AUP together.

oThe AUP document will help keep students safe while accessing the internet in school.

Acceptable Use Policy

oTeachers should advise students that their school internet records can be searched.

oThe school district has the right to search students files on the computer if there is suspicion that the AUP has been broken.

oAUP should be discussed in school and at home that way students are less likely to break the rules.

oTeachers should teach students about cyber safety. This information should be integrated into the curriculum so that students are aware of this problem.

Guidelines for Educators

o Teachers should provide a way for students to privately report Cyberbullying. Setting this precaution in place lets students know that there is a safe place to share Cybersafety violations.

o If students are aware of this, they will feel safer about reporting this inappropriate behavior.

o Students who take part in Cyberbullying might be less likely to perform this act if they know that there school is aware of the problem and they could get into serious trouble.

Guidelines for Educators

Carmel Central School DistrictAcceptable Use Policy Consent and Waiver for Employees, Parents, and StudentsCONSENT AND WAIVER AGREEMENT

By signing this Acceptable Use Policy Consent and Waiver Agreement, I agree that I will abide by the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology and the Internet of the Carmel Central School District. I have read the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology and the Internet, and I understand it. I further understand that this form will be kept on file for future reference.

Name: ___________________________________ (Please Print Legibly)

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___________

Example of Acceptable Use Policy Carmel Central School District

o Let children know what information should not be given out online.

o Talk with your child about what he/she does online and who his/her cyber friends are.

o Discuss Cyberbullying with your child and let them know the importance of sharing disturbing information (such as threats) with you.

o Put your computer in a public place in your home.

o Check out your child’s online postings and profiles.

Guidelines for Parents

o Cyberbullying is harmful to children, and it happens very often.

o Educators and parents must teach children “Cybersafety” from an early age so that they can safely interact on the internet.

o In order to detect if Cyberbullying is occurring, teachers and parents need to have conversations with students.

Cyberbullying

The Technology Facilitator in every school district should be responsible for informing

parents/guardians about what can happen to children while using the internet. Part of the

Technology Facilitators job should be to create a presentation. This presentation should be

presented at the beginning of every school year. It should be open to all Administrators,

Educators, Parents and Students in the community.

The Technology Facilitator’s presentation should include the following:

o Learning how to keep children safe & risk free of the Internet

o Understanding technology tools that are available to our students

o Find out what children and teens are commonly doing on the Internet

o Understand potential life threatening scenarios

o Understand “Social Networking”

o Discuss school districts Acceptable Use Policy

Suggestions for School Districts. . . .

“After rehearsal for the school play, Nicole remains in the auditorium by herself to practice dance moves, forgetting that the video camera is still on. The next day you and a friend discover the video of Nicole, which contains some silly and embarrassing footage. You decide to create a fake Facebook page for Nicole that contains some of the footage, and you invite the whole school to be her friend. The video of Nicole dancing becomes a school-wide joke, and people start to add visual and sound effects that make Nicole look even funnier. Before long, the video begins to spread around the Internet and Nicole receives hundreds of harassing messages.”

What would you do?

Cyberbullying Scenario . . .

If cyberbullying is an ongoing occurrence, what else can educators and parents do to protect our children?

Something To Think About. . . .

Brain Pop Cyberbullying Video. http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/cyberbullying/

Carmel Central School District, Acceptable Use Policy. http://www.carmelschools.org/

Cyberbullying Understanding and Addressing Online Cruelty. Cyberbullying Scenarios. http://www.adl.org/education/curriculum_connections/cyberbullying/Middle%20School%20Handouts.pdf

Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D., Director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. http://privateschool.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=privateschool&cdn=education&tm=16&f=10&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//csriu.org/onlinedocs/cskcstschools.pdf

Tweenangels Cyberbullying Video. http://www.tweenangels.org/video_animation/cyberbullying_video.html

References