Cyber-Bullying
Mary Olson
SL5040
July 31, 2009
Definition and Relevance
Internet safety has been important to school officials since computers came into
schools. As parents, we have had to sign agreements to district policies on use
of computers. Teachers and librarians instruct (hopefully) the use of databases
rather than google or wikipedia. Districts have filters to keep a student from
accidentally (or on purpose) stumbling upon pornographic images or chat rooms
with an unknown, uncontrolled population that may include predators.
Cyber-bullying takes these measures farther. “What’s cyber-bullying?” is the
usual response I received when I told people this was my research topic. I used
Cyber-Mentors definition that cyber bullying is using technology (computer or cell
phone) to “deliberately hurt, humiliate, harass, intimidate or threaten someone.”
(2009) Examples of cyber bullying are sending inappropriate text messages or
instant messages. It may involve untrue, hurtful statements on a web site. A
chat room or social network or wiki may be the setting. Posting embarrassing
photographs online without permission is another example. Prank calling,
identity theft, rumor spreading, and cruel You Tube videos may also be cyberbullying.
Students must be educated about cyber bullying. As librarians, we want to teach
what it is, and what to do if they become a victim. At the very least, we must
give them access to correct information within our online catalogs to help them
cope with this. Internet safety classes need to include this information. Just as
we want students to come to us for physical bullying, or serious problems at
home, we want to know if one is cyber-bullied and we need to know how to
handle the problem. As librarians dedicated to correct cataloging, we want
sources for information on this topic listed clearly. Not every student will
approach an adult for help, but some may seek information on his or her own.
We also must urge our schools and districts to implement a clear policy on cyberbullying, or broaden current anti-bullying programs to include the cyber side.
Background and Origin
Megan Meier was a thirteen year-old girl in St. Louis in 2006. She loved her
online boyfriend. The trouble began when he started writing ugly, obscene and
cruel messages to her. She committed suicide.
The boyfriend turned out to be the mother of another girl at Megan’s school.
She posed as a boyfriend, to see if Megan was saying any negative things about
her own daughter. She laughed when she heard of Megan’s fate.
The county discovered this crime did not fit into any category of law already on
the books, and that the mother could not be charged. Finally, the federal
government filed charges against her in LA, where MySpace (the vehicle for the
abuse) is located. They charged her for committing fraud for masquerading as
Megan’s boyfriend.
The case is not yet decided. This mother will likely have a hefty fine and some
prison time. The difficulty in charging her was the impetus for many states to
pass laws against this type of abuse. In fact, a new act, the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Act is pending in Congress. But it is too late for Megan. (The Economist,
2009).
Senator Robert Menendes introduced a bill to Congress in May, 2009. It would
provide funding to programs and grants that educate children in safe, ethical
technology use (Kremen, 2009). He named the bill AWARE (adolescent web
awareness requires education). This bill goes beyond a 2008 bill which
instructed educators to teach internet safety, but provided neither funding nor
training for teachers. (Internet Wire, 2009).
Negative and Positive Effects
The negative effects of cyber-bullying are vast and as devastating as face to face
bullying. Hearing of Megan’s plight and the cruelty of the mother, Mrs. Drew, is
tragic. The Columbine High School shootings leap immediately to mind as the
extreme response of two bullied victims. I spoke with a teenager who had been
the victim of cyber-bullying. As is sadly typical, a girl who had been her friend
began to spread rumors around the school to other students and even teachers.
Numerous cruel text messages were received. Finally this girl dropped out of an
activity she had been part of for a couple years to diminish contact with this girl.
This seemed to end the abuse.
Another type of cyber bullying was experienced by a sixth grader, Piper. A group
of girls made a YouTube cartoon video called, “Top Six Ways to Kill Piper.” Not
everyone who heard about this incident even had any concern about it. (CNN
Newroom, 2009).
Technology helps us with so much…research, connections around the world, and
innovations. But as educators, we must learn to teach students how to use
technology in a smart way. Fourteen technology companies such as Google,
MySpace and Facebook have united to combat cyber-bullying. They are creating
an online resource to help educate teachers and brainstorm ways of using mobile
phones as part of learning in the classroom. (Cooper, 2008)
The response to cyber-bullying is enormous. The number of web sites that are
geared to parents, teachers, teens and tweens awed me. Cybermentors.org.uk
is one of many web sites that I visited. To my mind, this is the best of the
bunch. It is all encompassing. Eleven tips are suggested to prevent and to
handle cyber-bullying. The first tip is to report cyber-bullying. Cybermentors is
available to hear about abuse and has a team of former victims-turned
counselors to work with effected individuals. Not responding or retaliating is
important. Saving the evidence is recommended, so there is a record of what
has happened and when. Be careful with the information you give out online. It
should be as general as possible (no address, phone numbers especially).
(Cybermentors).
Action Steps
Besides being aware of the problem of cyber-bullying, teachers and librarians
need tools to instruct and help students. Here is a short list of great web sites
that have that information and help. These would all be great to put on a
Delicious account, or bookmark as favorites.
Here is a list of sites I found with helpful information about cyber-bullying
This is a hotline for cyber stalking, bullying and abuse. It
has current relevant news articles, and links to safe social networks, legal advice,
information for librarians. They have free online videos to help instruct students.
www.wiredforsafety.org
This site is geared toward the adult audience. It
includes research, policy and news reports. It lists 10 steps for families to halt
cyber-bullying.
www.fightcrime.org/cyberbullying
Both parent and kids pages are available. There are
games and webisodes for students. The parent pages inform on cyber-bullying,
a catalog of resources, law enforcement, educators and advisors.
www.stopbullying.now.hrsa.gov
This site has pages for the community, parents and students.
There are interactive games, videos, and current facts and statistics on Internet
safety.
www.webwisekids.org
Sponsored by the Center for Missing & Exploited Children, this
site targets parents, educators, law enforcers, teens and younger kids. It has
excellent videos, (see tracking Teresa) and includes the viewpoint of the
unintended perpetrator of cyber-bullying.
www.netsmartz.org
A site directed at parents, getnetwise includes a glossary (for
those parents not technologically savvy), blog posts, how-to videos, and safe
family sites.
www.getnewise.org
This is another parent oriented site with links for home,
educators, higher education, small businesses and tools and resources. The
Tools and Resources link had free lesson plans for teachers on ethics and safety
topics.
www.staysafeonline.org
If you search the site for cyber-bullying, there are a multitude of
links, including a Frontline episode on Growing Up Online.
www.PBS.org
http://couros.wikispaces.com/cyberbulling
This site includes videos, discussions and
resources.
This site has helpful definitions, FAQ,
articles, warning signs for parents to look for, how to minimize the chance a child
becomes a victim, and what to do if it happens.
www.FBI.gov/publications/pguide/pgguidee.htm
The parents’ page has nothing on internet safety. The Kids’
page has at least 90 articles. The Teens’ page has a section of hot topics, which
include articles written by teens. There are more links to Internet safety.
www.kidshealth.org
Personal Impact
The volume of available resources on cyber-bullying amazed me. I had no idea
how widespread cyber-bullying is (West, 2009) or the negative effects it can
have on a person. Instead of feeling complacent about Internet safety, I have
developed a desire to instruct kids on the dangers of cyber-bullying. I was
encouraged by the wealth of knowledge available on the topic of Internet safety
and cyber-bullying.
References
Cooper,W. (2008, April 3). Online giants unite to combat cyber-bullying. In The
New Media Age, p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from nma.co.uk.
www.nma.co.uk
Cyberbullying. Retrieved July 21, 2009 from TheSite.org:
http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/law/victims/cyberbullying
Cyber-bullying on a whole new level. (Broadcast transcript). (2009, May 25).
Retrieved on July 21, 2009 from General Reference Center Gold via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.denverlibrary.org:2048/itx/start.do?pro
dId=GRGM
Kremen, M. (2009, April 25). Menendez pushes cyber safety bill; seeks to help
teens shun bullying, sexual messages. In The Record (Bergen County,
NJ). Retrieved July 20, 2009, from General Reference Center Gold via
Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.denveribrary.org:2048/itx/start.do?prod
Id=GRGM
Megan’s Law; Cyber-bullying and the courts. (2009, July 19). In The Economist
(US), 392.8639. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from Gale General Reference
Center:
http://gind.galegroup.comezproxy.denverlibrary.org:2048/itx/start.do?pro
did=GRGM
Middleton, A. (2009, June 3). Cyber-bullying to be included in schools’ policy. In
Europe Intelligence Wire. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from General
Reference Center Gold via Gale. Denver Public Library:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.denverlibrary.org:2048/itx/start.do?pro
dId=GRGM
Raimes, A. (2005). Keys for Writers. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Tonn, J. (2006, August 30). Cyber bullying. In Education Week, Vol. 2 Issue 1,
p.19-19, 1/9p. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from MasterFILE Premier:
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.denverpubliclibrary.org.2048/ehost/det
ail?vid=1&hid=3&sid=
Top tips on cyberbullying! Retrieved July 20, 2009.
http://cybermentors.org.uk/index.php?option+com_content&task=view&i
d=683&Itemid=169
Web wise kids applauds house introduction of historic child Internet safety
legislation: bill would provide funding to programs educating children and
teens on safely using the Internet and mobile technologies. (2009, July
16). In Internet Wire. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from General OneFile via
Gale via Denver Public Library:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.denverlibrary.org:2048/itx/start.do?pro
dId=ITOF
West, P. (2009, June 29). Cyber bullying affects one in 10 students. In
Consumer Health News (English). Retrieved July 20, 2009, from General
Reference Center Gold via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.denverpubliclibrary.org:2048/itx/help/h
elpTopics.html
What is cyberbullying? Retrieved July 20, 2009.
(http://cybermentors.org.uk/index.php?option+com_content&task=view&i
d=683&Itemid=169)