Cyberbullying
Donna Kozica, LCSW
Social Work Department
Chairperson
What is Cyberbulling?
The use of technology to harass, threaten,
embarrass, or target another person. By
definition it occurs among young people.
When an adult is involved, It may meet the
definition of cyber-harassment or cyberstalking, a crime that can have legal
consequences and involve jail time.
Types of Cyberbullying
• Flaming: online fighting using electronic
messages that include angry and vulgar
language
• Harassment, threats, and stalking: repeatedly
sending cruel, vicious, or threatening
messages (including sexual harassment)
• Denigration: sending or posting gossip or
rumors about a person to damage his or her
reputation or friendships
Types of Cyberbullying (cont)
• Impersonation: using another person’s e-mail
account to send harmful material or leading a victim
into a hurtful or embarrassing situation by
pretending to be someone else
• Outing or trickery: engaging someone in instant
messaging, tricking him or her into revealing
sensitive information, and forwarding that
information to others
• Exclusion: Intentionally excluding someone from an
online group
Who are the victims?
A 2006 poll from the national organization Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids found that 1 in 3 teens and
1 in 6 preteens have been the victim of
cyberbullying
The increase in cell phone use and computers is
likely to make this number increase
Warning Signs of Cyberbullying:
• Emotional distress during or after using
internet or phone
• Being very protective or secretive of digital life
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Avoidance of school or group gatherings
• Slipping grades and “acting out” in anger
• Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite
What is the impact of cyberbullying ?
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Anxiety
Depression
Low self-esteem
Physiological complaints
School avoidance and school failure
What is the added impact of the lack of
face to face contact?
• Greater psychological harm because hurtful
information can be transmitted broadly and
instantaneously and can be difficult to eliminate!
• Anonymous quality can make a teen hypervigilant
• Aggressors feel shielded from consequences so
they say and do things they would not do in
person causing greater impact to victim
What can parents do to safeguard their
kids?
• Keep computers in easily viewable places, such as
family room or kitchen. NOT IN BEDROOM!
• Talk regularly about their online activities and
responsibility. Make sure they know the risks of
cyberbullying and that they need to tell you if they
are being bothered.
• Respect their privacy but let them know you may
view their online activity if you are concerned.
• Set clear expectations for responsible online
behavior and phone use. Outline consequences!
What can parents do? (cont)
• Be aware of the bullying warning signs.
• Consider installing parental control software and
tracking programs, but do not solely rely on them.
• Be equally alert your child is bullying others even if
unintentionally!
• Document any bullying.
• Contact the school and enlist the help of school
personnel.
What can parents do? (cont)
• File a complaint with the Web site, flag it,
Block user, or contact cell phone company.
• Contact the police if cyberbullying includes
threats.
• Consider establishing a parent-child Internet
Contract
Internet Safety Education Is Mandated
• Addressed in grades 3-12 yearly
• Policies in place to address Cyberbullying
Competencies For Good Decisions
Resources
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Family Online Safety Institute, www.fosi.org
National Association of School Psychologist,
www.nasponline.org
http://www.netsmartz.org/Presentations
www.SafeKids.com
www.atg.wa.gov
http://sociallyactive.com
(Socially active is the leading provider of social-privacy
monitoring software for parents)