CyberbullyingWhat you should know as parents

by Charles McKinley

Parents’ Technology Night, 2013, sponsored by your PTSO

Any harassment that occurs via the internet, cell phones or other electronic devices.

When communication technology is used to intentionally harm others through hostile behavior including harassing or threatening text messages or through rude or hurtful internet postings.

The National Crime Prevention Council defines cyber-bullying as “the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.”

Cyberbullying – legally speaking

CyberbullyingPrevention and Protection

Some Useful Websites

Tips for Parents

If Bullying OccursYour First StepsBy Texting or PhoneBy Internet

Internet Safety 101 http://www.internetsafety101.org/

NetSmartz http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents Center for Safe and Responsible Internet

Use  www.csriu.org ConnectSafely.org  www.connectsafely.org Facebook Family Safety Center

http://www.facebook.com/help/safety Family Online Safety Institute www.fosi.org GetGameSmart

http://www.getgamesmart.com/

Internet Safety – some websites

Tips for Parents

Talk Educate Agree Monitor

Next: If Bullying Occurs

Tips for Parents - Talk

Communicate with your childrenEncourage them to be open about their friends and interactions with others

Talk often about their web use and Internet habits

So that they are ready and willing to talk if or when they experience something unpleasant or distressing online or by cell phone

Tips for Parents - EducateEducate your children about appropriate online behaviors

Teach and reinforce positive morals and values about how others should be treated with respect and dignity, in both personal interactions and in electronic interactions

Tips for Parents - Agree

Set-up an agreement with your child, and build a crystal-clear understanding about what is appropriate with a Contract

Internet Use ContractCell Phone Use Contract (from the Cyber Bullying Research Center)

Tips for Parents - MonitorMonitor your child’s activities while online – especially early in his or her exploration of cyberspace

This is best done informally through active participation in your child’s Internet experience

You can also formally monitor or define Internet usage through software

If Bullying OccursTexting

or Phone

InternetFirst

Steps

If Bullying Occurs- First StepsTell your child not to respond to rude e-

mails, messages, and commentsSave the evidence, such as e-mail and

text messagesTake screenshots of comments and imagesNote the date and time of the harassmentMake a report to www.cybertipline.comInform law enforcement of any threats or if

something illegal has occurredContact us here at school

If Bullying Occurs- Texting or Phone

Contact your cell phone providerCheck out phone features that may allow the number to be blocked

Change the phone number, if necessary

Instruct your child to share the new number only with trustworthy people

If Bullying Occurs- Internet

Social networking sites, IM, chat rooms, and e-mail

Instruct your child to “block” bullies Contact your Internet service provider

(ISP) Ask the website administrator or ISP to

remove any Web page created to hurt your child

Possibly delete your child’s current account and open a new one

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

50% of young people have experienced some form of cyber bullying

10 to 20 % experience cyber bullying 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

http://www.bullyingstatistics.org

Some Statistics

Stop Bullying Now, copyright 2009, retrieved June 2, 2013 at http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Cell phone use contract. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_cell_phone_contract.pdf

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Identification Prevention Response Fact Sheet. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Family Internet use contract. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_internet_use_contract.pdf

Information Courtesy of:

continued

Information Courtesy of: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children,

Copyright 2001-2013 retrieved June 2, 2013 at http://www.netsmartz.org/Cyberbullying

Steinberg, S., Internet Safety for Kids: Best Websites and Services, posted July 30, 2012, retrieved June 2, 2013 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-steinberg/internet-safety_b_1719741.html

TechOnTheNet, Copyright 2003-2013, retrieved June 2, 2013 at http://www.techonthenet.com/clipart/keyboard/index.php

U.S. Legal Inc., Copyright 2010-2013, retrieved June 2, 2013 at http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/cyber-bullying/