Officer Marcus Humber
Officer Matt Frydryk
Amherst Police Department
CYBERBULLYING
What is Bullying?
 According to the Massachusetts Attorney
General, bullying typically involves intense or
continuous aggression which can be direct or
indirect and which may be physical, verbal,
gestural or non-verbal. The intent is always
negative and malicious and there is frequently a
power imbalance between the parties involved.
The impact on targets can be substantial,
resulting in negative long term emotional,
physical and academic consequences.
What Is Cyberbullying?
 The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Resources defines Cyberbullying, as bullying
that takes place using electronic technology.
Electronic technology includes devices and
equipment such as cell phones, computers,
and tablets as well as communication tools
including social media sites, text messages,
chat, and websites.
Why is Cyberbullying
Different?
 Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, and can reach a kid even when he or she is
alone. It can happen any time of the day or night.
 Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted
anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide
audience. It can be difficult and sometimes
impossible to trace the source. Due to this
anonymity, kids are more apt to harass people
online, rather than to their face.
 Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts,
and pictures is extremely difficult after they have
been posted or sent.
Why Cyberbully?
 It allows people to avoid facing their victim.
 The National Councils on Crime Prevention
reported that 81% of teens cyberbully
because they think its funny.
 Don’t have to see the victims reactions
 Don’t realize how much damage they are
doing
Why Cyberbully?
 Popular kids
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They see it as a way to stay popular.
Hurting others makes them feel powerful.
 Kids with less social success,
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Cope with their low self-esteem.
Help fit in with their peers.
Trouble empathizing with those they hurt
Some Effects of
Cyberbullying
 Although technology and social media can be
used for many positive activities such as
connecting with friends and entertainment, it
can also be used as a very negative tool by
bullies….
Effects…
Although sometimes harmless, Cyberbullying can
lead to serious effects. According to
stopbullying.gov, kids who are cyberbullied are
more likely to:
 Use alcohol and drugs
 Skip school
 Experience in-person bullying
 Be unwilling to attend school
 Receive poor grades
 Have lower self-esteem
 Have more health problems
Cyberbullying Studies
 According to a report by CNN, as many as 25% of
teens have experience cyberbullying. Of these
cases, it was rare that the bully was a stranger.
 USA Today reports that females tend to mock
others for their physical appearance. Males are
more apt to make sexually explicit comments.
 A majority of these reports come from social
networks and online gaming.
 Although research for this type of bullying is
growing, technology is rapidly changing it is
difficult for these numbers to be portrayed
accurately.
Technology is Evolving
Reasons For Not Reporting
 Feel ashamed and embarrassed.
 Afraid of retaliation.
 Feel pressure to be quiet.
 Concerned no one will believe them.
 Worried about being labeled a snitch.
 Feel like they deserve it.
 Assume adults expect them to deal with it.
 Fear adults will restrict their digital access.
How to Avoid Becoming a
Victim
 Remember: Never post anything you
wouldn’t want to share with the rest of the
world.
 Discuss what personal information is
appropriate to tell others, and what is not.
 Learn to develop realistic expectations for
both personal and on-line relationships
 Rule of Thumb: Whatever goes online is
forever…
Prevention
 Be private. Keep passwords, pictures and secrets to
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yourself.
Take five- Don’t reply in anger.
Stop, block and tell-don’t reply, block the sender, tell
someone.
Save the evidence on your computer or print it out.
Take a screen shot.
Be aware of what your kids are doing.
Establish rules about technology use.
Know school rules.
Be a parent NOT a friend.
 Block certain content
 Set limits for time spent on technology.
Signs of Being a Victim
 Unexpectedly stop using computer.
 Appears nervous when a text and email appears.
 Appears uneasy about going to school or
outside.
 Appears angry, depressed, or frustrated after
using the computer.
 Avoids discussions about what they were doing
on the computer.
 Becomes withdrawn from friends and family.
Don’t Be The Bully
 Avoid sending email messages, instant messages or text
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messages to others pretending to be another person.
Don’t spread rumors or false information.
Don’t send rude, harassing or threatening email messages,
instant messages or text messages;
Don’t create websites that ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate
others.
Do not post on websites or disseminating embarrassing or
inappropriate pictures or images of others.
This type of behavior will stay with you and can result in
criminal charges!
Effects on The Bully
 When it comes to Cyberbullying, EVERYONE
loses!
 Stress to your child the importance of not
following the crowd with cyberbullying.
 Although it may seem as a joke at the time the
internet is a written record and words can be
forwarded, reposted, blogged, and listed
anywhere a million times over.
 These actions can come back to haunt you.
 Many employers now use the internet and social
media to help perform background checks.
Signs of a Cyberbully
 Quickly switches screens of closes programs
when you walk by.
 Uses computer at all hours of the night.
 Gets unusually upset if he/she cannot us the
computer.
 Laughs excessively while using the computer.
 Avoids discussions about what they are doing on
the computer.
 Uses multiple online accounts or using an
account that is not their own.
It’s the Law!
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Possessing and/or distributing inappropriate pictures of anyone under the age of
18 IS considered Child Pornography. Even inappropriate pictures of someone
that are sent as a joke is considered a Felony and can result in very serious
repercussions.
“Whoever, with lascivious intent, disseminates any visual material that contains
a representation or reproduction of any posture or exhibition in a state of nudity
involving the use of a child who is under eighteen years of age, knowing the
contents of such visual material or having sufficient facts in his possession to
have knowledge of the contents thereof, or has in his possession any such visual
material knowing the contents or having sufficient facts in his possession to have
knowledge of the contents thereof, with the intent to disseminate the same,
shall be punished in the state prison for a term of not less than ten nor more than
twenty years or by a fine of not less than ten thousand nor more than fifty
thousand dollars or three times the monetary value of any economic gain
derived from said dissemination, whichever is greater, or by both such fine and
imprisonment.”
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Ex: Sexting, “Revenge Sites,” Etc.
Talk to your children about the dangers of taking part in this type of dangerous
activity. Even pictures sent through apps such as “Snapchat” can be saved!
Criminal Harassment
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What is Criminal Harassment?
“Whoever willfully and maliciously engages in a knowing pattern of conduct or
series of acts over a period of time directed at a specific person, which seriously
alarms that person and would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial
emotional distress, shall be guilty of the crime of criminal harassment and shall
be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 21/2
years or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by both such fine and
imprisonment. The conduct or acts described in this paragraph shall include, but
not be limited to, conduct or acts conducted by mail or by use of a telephonic or
telecommunication device or electronic communication device including, but
not limited to, any device that transfers signs, signals, writing, images, sounds,
data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio,
electromagnetic, photo-electronic or photo-optical system, including, but not
limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or
facsimile communications.
Pattern = Three Documented Events
Electronically-communicated threats are a crime in the same way that a face-toface or written threats can generate a criminal charge.
What To Do If You Become a
Victim- First Steps
 Once you determine if cyberbullying is
actually going on:
 Save the evidence. Record the dates, times, and
descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has
occurred. Save and print screenshots, emails, and
text messages. Use this evidence to report
cyberbullying to web and cell phone service
providers.
 Do not “fuel the fire.” Don’t respond.
 Block the person
What Else to Do
 Identify the sender. Contact your ISP
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(Internet Service Provider) if necessary.
Contact the offender’s parents, who may or
may not be supportive. Document
conversation.
Contact your school.
If warranted, contact an attorney.
Threats, extortion, sexual harassment should
be reported to the police.
Use Specific Websites to
Assist You
 Nearly every website has a place to report inappropriate
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content.
Websites such as, Google, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook,
twitter, etc lists their terms and conditions of what they
consider is appropriate. This can help you deter
cyberbullying and remove harmful content.
Cyberbullying often violates the terms of service
established by social media sites and internet service
providers.
Refer to these websites on how to report this harmful
content.
Visit social media safety centers to learn how to block users
and change settings to control who can contact you
Resources
 The Internet Education Foundation
 Getnetwise.org
 Database of software tools available to help parents
guide their children to safe and rewarding online
experiences.
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Filter sexually explicit material
Monitor online activity
Block times of day when internet can be used
Block personal information from being posted or emailed
Browers for kids.
Kid-oriented search engines.
Comcast/Xfinity Parental
Controls
 Constant Guard®
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Free for Xfinity Customers
 Parental controls: Comcast offer Norton Security
Suite to help filter out inappropriate content and
also monitor Internet activity to help prevent
identity theft. These controls can log where
children surf, monitor chat sessions and provide
age-based web access in addition to filtering
offensive content.
When to Report to Law
Enforcement
 When a weapons is involved.
 There are threats of physical safety
 There are threats of hate-motivated violence,
such as racism or homophobia.
 Threats of serious bodily harm.
 There is sexual abuse.
 Anyone is accused of an illegal act, such as
robbery or extortion—using force to get
money, property, or services.
Report Bullying Online to
APD
 As of May 3, 2010 the Anti Bullying law requires
each school district to develop and implement a
plan to address bullying and intervention.
 The law instructs principals or their designee to
report instances of bullying where they believe it
amounts to a criminal offense.
 APD has adopted a software program developed
by Coplogic to meet the new regulations.
 Bullying reported online will be facilitated
utilizing the Coplogic/Anti-bullying software.
Online reporting cont.
 All school principals and/or their designee
have been assigned a profile within the antibullying software so they can directly report
and track incidents to APD.
 Reports of bullying from parents, guardians
or children will be documented in our
standard system.
 A community member will not be referred to
report the incident online.
Online Reporting Cont.
 Det. David Foster receives all online reports
of bullying.
 Det. Foster will review each complaint and
determine if further investigation is
necessary.
 Reports that necessitate further investigation
will be assigned by Det. Lt. Ron Young.
 When appropriate charges will be filed.