Internet Safety and Cyber Bulling

Karen Brooks

Dr. Andrew Taylor

Digital Dossierhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA

What Is Bullying?

• Bullying can take place in or out of school and in person or through other means of communication. When it occurs online, in, for example, emails, text messages, or in posts on websites, it is referred to as cyberbullying. Bullying can be verbal or physical, and when physical, it can be directed against a person, a person’s property, or be used to intimidate, rather than inflict damage to the person or his or her property. Verbal bullying can include name-calling, threatening, or teasing someone, or making obscene remarks or spreading rumors about someone. Bullying can be peer-to-peer, or be done by younger people to older people or vice versa.

What is Cyber Bullying?

• Using communication technologies such as email, cell phones, chat rooms, instant messaging, blogs, or defamatory personal websites to send or post repeated, deliberate, cruel and harmful text or images.

(Shek, 2004; Belsey, www.cyberbullying.ca)

What is Cyber Bullying? – WiredSafety Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=T38-9OCDrP4

NYS and Bullying Laws

New York’s Grade

• B+

MAKING THE GRADE How States are "Graded"

on their Anti Bullying Laws by Brenda High, Executive Director of BullyingPolice.org

http://www.bullypolice.org/grade.html

  1. The word "bullying" must be used in the text of the bill/law/statutes.

2. The law must clearly be an anti bullying law, not a school safety law.

3. There must be definitions of bullying and harassment. 

4. There should be recommendations about how to make policy and what needs to be in the model policy.

5. A good law involves education specialists at all levels, starting with the State Superintendent's (Education) office, though the School Districts, Schools, Parents and Students.  Together they can define and set rules, policies, and find and implement the best anti bullying programs. Laws should require anti bullying training, anti bullying education for students and staff as well as prevention programs.

6. A good law mandates anti bullying programs, not suggests programs.

7. Laws should include a date the model policy is due, when the schools need to have their policies in place, (in keeping with the anti bullying law requirements), and when the anti bullying programs must be in effect.

8. There must be protection against reprisal, retaliation or false accusation.

9. There must be school district protection against lawsuits upon compliance to policies.

10. A top rated law will put the emphasis on the victims of bullying by assigning counseling for victims who suffer for years after peer abuse.

11. There must be accountability reports made to either Lawmakers or the State Education Superintendent and there must be a consequence assigned to schools/districts who don’t comply to the law.  There should be mandatory posting and/or notification of policies and reporting-form-procedures for students and parents.

12. Cyberbullying or "Electronic Harassment" law. Passing in June 2010, this is a long awaited law. 

New York's law is missing point 5 and 8 and missing the "+" of point 10 (victim counseling) and point 12 (a cyberbullying clause).http://bullypolice.org/ny_law.html Takes effect 7/1/2012

Not all bullying is this obvious!Talent Show - Cyberbullying

Prevention Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdQBurXQOeQ

Our Work Environments

• Story of local school of how simple playing can turn into bullying, even with staff.

• Local School District

5 Ways That Boys and Girls Bully Differently http://www.thebeehive.org/school/k-12-students/supporting-my-child-school/top-5-ways-boys-and-girls-bully?gclid=CJH17LDUv6cCFcfe4AodeRHbBQ

• Boys are more likely than girls to display bullying behavior through physical intimidation. Girls bully by lashing out verbally more than physically. They leave other girls out of their circle and spread rumors by gossiping.

• When boys bully, they bully girls as well as other boys. Girls usually bully other girls.

• Boys tend to bully openly, making it easier to spot. Girls disguise their bullying and act out in more passive aggressive ways. Because of this, girl-on-girl bullying is harder to spot. The majority of researchers think that boys bully more than girls, but more recent studies suggest that adults simply have a harder time recognizing when girls bully.

• Experts believe that boys are more likely to cyber-bully as well. Girls who are cyber-bullied are more likely to report the bullying to adults than their male peers.

• Girls report more positive opinions of how their teacher’s handle bullying. Boys are more likely to think that their teachers are doing a poor job in responding to bullying problems.

5 Ways That Boys and Girls Bully The Same

http://www.thebeehive.org/school/k-12-students/supporting-my-child-school/top-5-ways-boys-and-girls-bully?gclid=CJH17LDUv6cCFcfe4AodeRHbBQ

• Both genders can bully in the form of racist, sexist or homophobic

remarks.

• Bullying by both boys and girls is harmful and can lead to depression, body image issues, and low self-esteem.

• According to psychologist and bullying expert Evelyn Field, bullies and targets of bullies often have undeveloped assertive communication skills. Assertive communication is the open expression of your needs, desires, thoughts and feelings. It involves speaking up for your own needs while also respecting the needs of others.

• Both male and female bullies often turn on their friends. • Bullying usually occurs amongst younger teens and pre-teens and

usually begins to fade by the later teen years. Later primary and middle school years are the crucial years to be aware of bullying.

• Cyber bullying affects many adolescents and teens on a daily basis. Cyber bullying involves using technology, like cell phones and the Internet, to bully or harass another person.

• Cyber bullying can take many forms:– Sending mean messages or threats to a person's email

account or cell phone – Spreading rumors online or through texts – Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social

networking sites or web pages – Stealing a person's account information to break into their

account and send damaging messages – Pretending to be someone else online to hurt another

person – Taking unflattering pictures of a person and spreading

them through cell phones or the Internet – Sexting, or circulating sexually suggestive pictures or

messages about a person – If convicted of Sexting – must register with sex offender registry for 20 years. Sexting is Child Pornography.

Characteristics of CyberbullyingSpeed & Ease:• Access available 24 hours/day, 7

days/week—victims can no longer find solace at home

• Pictures/text sent instantly• If kids simply “turn off” their technology,

they are socially isolated.

• 8 Forms of Cyberbulling• Flaming: Using inflammatory or

vulgar words to provoke an online fight • Harassment: Continually sending

vicious, mean, or disturbing e-mails to an individual

• Denigration: Spreading rumors, lies or gossip to hurt a person’s reputation

• Impersonation: Posting offensive or aggressive messages under another person’s name

• Outing: Posting or sharing confidential or compromising information or images

• Trickery: Fooling someone into sharing personal information which you then post online

• Exclusion: Purposefully excluding someone from an online group

• Cyberstalking: Ongoing harassment and denigration that causes a person considerable fear for his/her safety

•

• How, Who, and Why

• Cyberbullying may occur via personal Web sites, blogs, e-mail, discussion groups, message boards, chat, instant messaging, or voice, text, or image cell phones.

• A cyberbully may be a person whom the target knows or an online stranger. A cyberbully may be anonymous and enlist the aid of others, including online “friends.”

• Cyberbullying may be a continuation of, or in retaliation for, in-school bullying. It may be related to fights about relationships or be based on hate or bias. Some teens think cyberbullying is a fun game.

• Teens might think…

• They think they are invisible, so they think they can’t be punished.

• No real harm has been caused online

• They should have a free speech right to post

Did you know…

• In 2004-2005, 1,500 students in grades 4-8 were surveyed by iSafe.– The results show that the majority of

students have had issues with cyberbullying or have been the initiator of the bullying.

• In 2005, Patchin and Hinduja completed a survey of 1,500 adolescents.

The Harm

• Cyberbullying can cause great emotional harm.

• Damaging material can be widely disseminated and impossible to fully remove.

• Teens are reluctant to tell adults for fear they will be restricted from online activities or the cyberbully will retaliate.

• Cyberbullying can lead to youth suicide and violence.

Responsible Management of Internet Use

• Keep the computer in a public place and supervise.

• Find out what public online sites and communities your child uses and review what your child is posting. Emphasize that these are public places!

» http://www.allmyfaves.com/ » Silent Friend in Social Networks

Prevent Your Child from Being a Cyberbully

• Make it clear that all Internet use must be in accord with family values of kindness and respect for others.

• If your child is being bullied at school, work with the school to stop the bullying and make sure your child knows not to retaliate online.

• If you know your child has cyberbullied others, be very proactive in preventing any continuation. You can be held financially liable for the harm your child causes to another.

Prevent Your Child from Becoming a Target

• Make sure your child knows not to post information that could be used maliciously.

• Visit your child’s online communities and discuss the values demonstrated by those who participate.

• Bully-proof your child by reinforcing your child’s individual strengths and fostering healthy friendships.

Warning Signs

• Sadness or anger during or after Internet use.

• Withdrawal from friends and activities, school avoidance, decline of grades, and depression – even thoughts of suicide.

• Indications that your child is being bullied at school.

http://tv.popcrunch.com/ellen-degeneres-speaks-on-cyber-bullying-tyler-clementi-video/

0:01:45

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/10/resources_to_help_stop_bullying_0930.php?page=2

Ellen Talk Show

Action Steps and Options• Make sure your child knows not to retaliate, to save the evidence,

and to ask for your help if he or she is having difficulties. • Identify the cyberbully or bully group. Ask your Internet service

provider for help. • There are different ways that your child or you can respond to

cyberbullying:– Calmly and strongly tell the cyberbully to stop and to remove any harmful

material. – Ignore the cyberbully by leaving the online environment, blocking

communications, or both. – File a complaint with the Internet or cell phone company. – Send the cyberbully’s parents a letter that includes the evidence of cyberbullying.

Demand that the actions stop and harmful material be removed– Seek assistance from the school.– Contact an attorney to send a letter or file a lawsuit against the cyberbully’s

parents.

• Contact the police if the cyberbullying involves threats of violence, coercion, intimidation based on hate or bias, or any form of sexual exploitation.

Despite the potential damage of cyber bullying, it is alarmingly common among adolescents

and teens. According to Cyber bullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation:

• Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying.

• More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.

• Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.

• Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.

The Cyberbullying Research Center also did a series of surveys that found these cyber

bullying statistics:• Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most

popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying

• About half of young people have experienced some form of cyber bullying, and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly

• Mean, hurtful comments and spreading rumors are the most common type of cyber bullying

• Girls are at least as likely as boys to be cyber bullies or their victims

• Boys are more likely to be threatened by cyber bullies than girls

• Cyber bullying affects all races

• Cyber bullying victims are more likely to have low self esteem and to consider suicide

Some Well-Known Examples

• Ryan Halligan-student born in Poughkeepsie, NY, who committed suicide after being bullied online. http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WBd0NRZ0rgw

Parents Children

Some Well-Known Exampleshttp://youtube.com/watch?v=HFsfDLCkfQU

CNN Story • Megan Meier-student in St. Louis, MO who

was a victim of a My Space hoax. Another teen’s parent made up an account and “friended” Megan only to “dump” her later. She committed suicide last year. Video 5:43

Tyra Show – Follow Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKhU0ykrCQ&feature=relatedVideo - 0:16 – 2:46

Recap• Many cyber bullies think that bullying others online is funny. • Cyber bullies may not realize the consequences for themselves of

cyberbullying. • The things teens post online now may reflect badly on them later

when they apply for college or a job. • Cyber bullies can lose their cell phone or online accounts for cyber

bullying. • Also, cyber bullies and their parents may face legal charges for

cyber bullying, and if the cyber bullying was sexual in nature or involved sexting, the results can include being registered as a sex offender.

• Teens may think that if they use a fake name they won't get caught, but there are many ways to track some one who is cyber bullying.

• Sexting is a felony - Child ponography – if convicted – must register on the sex offender list for 20 years.

• NO ONE – has the right to make another person feel left out, feel inferior, or feel fear.

Faces of VictimsMore real life stories: http://www.netsmartz.org/reallifestories

Local School Uses Classic Literature to Fight Bullying

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Greene-Co-school-uses-classic-kids-book-to-fight/lhgDttuLlk6AlxJNSa77FQ.cspx

Teaching resources: http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00352/100dresses.htmlhttp://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=38456

Recognizing the Signs

• Patchin & Hinduja have created a resource to help you notice the signs of cyberbullying

• http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_warning_signs.pdf

HandoutVictim Bully

In the Movies – Everything Works out

• My Bodyguard• Stand By Me• Heathers• Lucas• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off• The Breakfast Club• Remember Me• Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• You Again - http://movieclips.com/osUp-you-again-movie-trailer-1/

and http://movieclips.com/4uNmF-you-again-movie-our-experiences/

• 17 Again -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJYKW48Vubw&feature=related Video1:49 – 1:55

• Karate Kid I Start at 11:00 -

plus Remake – Netflix – online

• Mean Girls• Max Keeble’s Big

Move• Back to the Future

Why address this in schools?

Students will not learn about Internet ethics, etiquette, and safety intuitively simply because they are growing up in the digital age. Also the risks they face will not simply go away by ignoring it. Our students need to be taught these skills necessary for them to function in the 21 century.

Why address this in schools?

Teachers give students assignments that require the use of the Internet. It is our responsibility to give them guidance on how to use technology safely.

Students want to learn!

62% of Grade 4 students prefer using the Internet over the library. 91% of Grade 11 students prefer the Internet over the library.Source: Young Canadians in a Wired World, Media Awareness Network, 2005

66 per cent of students say they would like to learn “How to protect your privacy on the Net” in school. Source: Young Canadians in a Wired World, Media Awareness Network, 2005

Don’t Laugh at Mehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTNVXlirF4Y

Resources: http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit187/lesson1.html http://storybookipedia.sblc.wikispaces.net/Don't+Laugh+At+Me-+Activities

Literature

• Bullying Books on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Bullying-books/lm/TGB5IZPC74JZ

• Glendale Library Book list for Bullying broken down by Teens, Juvenile and DVD. http://library.ci.glendale.ca.us/About_Bullying.asp

• Embracing a Child – Books for Kids - http://www.embracingthechild.org/bully.html

• Children’s Books about Bullying - http://www.best-childrens-books.com/childrens-books-about-bullying.html

Literature

• Books about Bullying for older kids - http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/kids/lists/bullies_older_kids/index.html

• Discussion and Activity Book about Bullying - http://www.thebullybook.com/

• PBS.org listing of Books about Bullies - http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/print_books.html

• Bulling Books by Grade Level - http://www.bulliesinbooks.com/

Resources for CyberBullying• Stop Online Social Aggression - http://www.aaronjmeyer.com/storage/cbnparent.pdf• Bullying by Gender Research http://spi.sagepub.com/content/27/2/157.short

• Bullying Statistics - http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html • Bully Police - http://bullypolice.org/ • Local School Fight to Stop Bullying using Classic Literature -

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Greene-Co-school-uses-classic-kids-book-to-fight/lhgDttuLlk6AlxJNSa77FQ.cspx

• High School Guidance Lesson Plan - http://www.aaronjmeyer.com/storage/individual-lesson-plancyber.pdf

• Ellen’s Resources to Stop Cyberbullying - http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/10/resources_to_help_stop_bullying_0930.php

• Parent Resource on Cyber Bullying - http://www.olweus.org/public/bullied_child.page • Ryan’s Resources - http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/resources/resources.htm• http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_warning_signs.pdf • How to Deal with a Bully - http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5286_deal-bully.html • Tech Dictionary - http://techdictionary.com/ • Netsmartz - http://www.netsmartz.org/reallifestories • Too Common Story - http://old.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullFilm.aspx

Thank You

kbrooks@ulsterboces.org ataylor@ulsterboces.org

Model Schools League of JusticeOn a Mission to Wipe out CyberBullying