Cyber Bullying

What is Cyber Bullying

Being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using technological means; an individual or group that usesinformation and communication involvingelectronic technologies to facilitatedeliberate and repeated harassment orthreat to an individual or group.

Also known as: ‘Electronic Bullying’ & ‘Online Social Cruelty’

Cyber Bullying Technology

E-mail

Cell phones

Pager text messages

Instant messaging

Defamatory personal web sites

Defamatory online personal polling web sites

Chat rooms

Cyber Bullying Types

“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

“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’

Effects of Cyber Bullying1. No longer limited to schoolyards or street corners, modern-day bullying can happen at home as well as at school — essentially 24 hours a day. Picked-on kids can feel like they're getting blasted nonstop and that there is no escape. As long as kids have access to a phone, computer, or other device (including tablets), they are at risk.

2. Severe, long-term, or frequent cyberbullying can leave both victims and bullies at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders.

3. In some rare but highly publicized cases, some kids have turned to suicide. Experts say that kids who are bullied — and the bullies themselves — are at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completed suicides.

4. The punishment for cyberbullies can include being suspended from school or kicked off of sports teams. Certain types of cyberbullying can be considered crimes.

Signs of Cyber Bullying

Many kids and teens who are cyberbullied don't want to tell a teacher or parent, often because they feel ashamed of the social stigma or fear that their computer privileges will be taken away at home.Signs of cyberbullying vary, but may include:

• Being emotionally upset during or after using the Internet or the phone

• Being very secretive or protective of one's digital life• Withdrawal from family members, friends, and activities• Avoiding school or group gatherings• Slipping grades and "acting out" in anger at home• Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite• Wanting to stop using the computer or cellphone• Being nervous or jumpy when getting an instant message,

text, or email• Avoiding discussions about computer or cellphone activities

Some facts about Cyber Bullying

1. Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once.2. 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online. Filling up your friends' Facebook feeds with positive posts instead of negative ones can boost school-wide morale. 3. Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying.4. 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem.5. 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.6. 90% of teens who have seen social-media bullying say they have ignored it. 84% have seen others tell cyber bullies to stop.7. Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse.8. Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.9. About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once.10. Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.11. About 75% of students admit they have visited a website bashing another student.

Suicide of Megan Meier

Megan Taylor Meier (November 6, 1992 – October 17, 2006) was an American teenager from Darlene Prairie, Missouri, who died of suicide by hanging three weeks before her fourteenth birthday. A year later, Meier's parents prompted an investigation into the matter and her suicide was attributed to cyber-bullying through the social networking website My Space. Lori Drew (née Shreeves), the mother of a friend of Meier, was indicted on the matter in 2008, but acquitted in 2009.

Suicide of Jessica Laney

•Jessica Laney found hanged at her home in Hudson, Florida on Sunday•Friends say she suffered constant abuse from online bullies and 'was pushed to the point where she couldn't handle it anymore'•In a haunting post, Jessica wrote about suicide last month and told her friends: 'I promise it will get better. Nothing's worth it'•Friends now calling for the site, Ask.fm, to be closed down

What you should to if you get cyber bullied

• Don't respond. Don't retaliate. Tell a trusted adult.

• Save all evidence. Never delete any communications. Be sure to keep electronic copies and print-outs in case things escalate.

• Keep records of ISP and law enforcement contacts. Do not alter the electronic communications.

• If the person who is harassing you continues this behavior, contact their Internet Service Provider (ISP).

• Save all information that contains even a hint of a threat and contact law enforcement

• Block the harasser after you have made copies of all communication.

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