With students spending an increasing amount of time online and communicating digitally, cyberbullying is becoming more and more of an issue.
What is cyberbullying?
"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. -- Stop Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is even more damaging because it can happen at any time. Many students today are creating new lives online through various social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Children interact in many different ways throughout the day digitally including texting, messaging, and e-mail. The internet gives children power through anonymity and gives them more independence than they may be ready for. They do not always believe that what they type or post is just as damaging as what is spoken.
Frontline's Growing Up Online program addresses issues regarding how the internet is transforming children's lives. The sixth section of the video is about a 13-year old boy who was a victim of cyberbullying who took his own life in 2003. There is also an interview with his father in which he discusses the role of cyberbullying played in the death of his son.
What can be done to help stop cyberbullying?
It is important that teachers, administrators, and parents work together to help keep students safe online and prevent cyberbullying. Students need to be taught how to safely use technology and how to deal with situations that are inappropriate. A few tips for teachers and parents are below.
- Teach students how to use technology to block cyberbullies.
- Monitor student use of computers both at home and at school.
- Tell students to never forward harmful or cruel messages or images.
- Encourage students to report instances of cyberbullying to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult.
- Raise awareness in the schools and community about cyberbullying.
Other resources about cyberbullying:
