Understanding and mitigating the

effects of online bullying on children

Rosalie O’Neale

Senior Advisor – Cybersmart

Australian Child Protection Forum

10-11 October 2013

Let’s Fight it Together

About us

Cybersmart:

the national cybersafety and

cybersecurity education

program managed

by the Australian

Communications and Media

Authority (ACMA).

.

Our evidence base

• Evidence-based, targeted

program

• Like, post, Share: Young

Australians experience of

social media (August 2013)

• Discussions with students

through our Outreach program

• Other authoritative research

Countering perceptions

• The majority of children and young people have

not engaged in risky behaviours online

• For the majority of children and young people,

being online is ‘mostly or always good’

• Exposure to online risk does not always = harm

• Risky experiences can help develop coping

strategies, resilience

• Limiting experiences may increase vulnerability

Being online: both + and -

• Integral to identity

building, social

connections

• For the majority – a

positive experience

• Risks and challenges:

• Content

• Conduct

• Contact

What is cyberbullying?

The use of technology to bully a person or group.

Bullying is repeated behaviour by an individual or

group with the intent to harm another person or

group.

What does it include?

• Hurtful/abusive texts, emails, posts, images or

videos

• Imitating others online (impersonation, ridicule)

• Excluding others online

• Spreading nasty rumours and gossip

• Flaming, griefing, bash boards, happy slapping

‘Part and parcel’

• Cyberbullying perceived by children to be an inevitable

consequence of using social networks.

“It’s sort of part and parcel of it all. You use social networks

and you’re going to see cyberbullying.”

• Impact of online ‘distance”.

”I reckon some people get this extra confidence to be

someone different online. They’ll say all this stuff there is no

way they’d say to your face.”

Experienced cyberbullying

0

5

10

15

20

25

8 to 9 yearolds

10 to 11year olds

12 to 13year olds

14 to 15year olds

16 to 17year olds

1

10

16 18

19

4

10

17

21

16

2009

2012

Witnessing cyberbullying

• The majority of SNS

users reported

witnessing cyberbullying

at least sometimes.

• 5 to 12% say they have

witnessed it frequently.

• 14 to 15-year-olds were

the most likely to say

they’ve witnessed it

frequently.

By gender

In 2011, where primary or

secondary reason for contact

was related to cyberbullying:

Female 79%

Male 21%

Sexting

Sending provocative or sexual photos, messages or

videos, generally using a mobile phone. It can also

include posting this type of material online.

• Serious social and legal consequences for both

males and females.

• Short term embarassment/long term

reputational damage.

Experience of sexting

0

5

10

15

20

Total Males Females

13 12

14

18 19

18

Sent

Received

Have you or someone within your group of friends sent/received sexually

suggestive nude or nearly nude photos or videos to someone else?*

* Question asked of children 16-17, with parental consent

Recognising cyberbullying

• Changes in personality – becoming withdrawn,

anxious, sad or angry

• Becoming more lonely, distressed

• Unexpected changes in friendship groups

• Avoidance of school, clubs, friends

• Decline in school work

• Change in sleep patterns

• Decline in physical health

Legal framework

• No specific ‘cyberbullying’ laws in Australia

but other general criminal laws may apply:

• Stalking

• Defamation

• Assault

• Vilification

• Civil Action

Cyberbullying - how

aware are parents?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

8 to 9

Parents of 8-9

10 to 11

Parents of 10-11

4

4

10

6

96

93

89

90

3

4

1

1

Yes

No

Don't know

Prefer not to say

Cyberbullying - how aware

are parents?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

12 to 13

Parents of 12-13

14 to 15

Parents of 14-15

16 to 17

Parents of 16-17

17

16

21

17

16

9

80

77

77

71

81

75

3

6

2

12

2

16

1

1

1

1

1

Yes

No

Don't know

Prefer not to say

Sexting – how aware are

parents?

0

5

10

15

20

Parents Young people

3

13

8

18

Sent

Received

Sending/receiving sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude photos...

Dealing with cyberbullying

• Talk to someone you trust

• Don’t retaliate or respond

• Block the person, change

your settings

• Report to the service

• Keep the evidence...but

don’t keep revisiting it

Standing up and speaking

out - bystanders

• Bullying generally stops

very quickly with peer

intervention

• Students who are

defended recover better

• More likely to have

positive resolution if

peers intervene.

Don’t join in, forward or

share

Support and report in

whatever way you can.

This isn’t ‘dobbing’, it’s

about being a good

friend.

Don’t be part of the

bullying cycle.

Eyes and ears

Parents

• Open communication is

critical

• Know the strategies

and make a ‘just in

case’ plan

• Get professional

support

Schools

• Important partner in the

education process.

• Trusted sources of

advice and help.

• Duty of care – robust

policies + effective

implementation

Technology and young

people

• Technology is central to

young people’s lives

• Children and young people

need the knowledge and

skills to engage in a positive

way with the virtual world...

• ...and it’s critical that we start

the education process early

Cybersmart

Cybersmart Outreach

• Internet safety

presentations

• PD workshops for

educators

• Pre-service teacher

program

• Connect-ed—online

cybersafety education

program

Social media

Pamphlets and posters

Tagged

www.cybersmart.gov.au

@CybersmartACMA

@RosalieACMA

fb.com/cybersmartcloud

youtube.com/user/ACMAcybersmart