By Bill Belsey

@Bullying_org help@bullying.org

• My learning journey
• What do we know?
• What can be done?
• Looking ahead…

I’m a dad

I’m a teacher

I’m a teacher

My learning journey, www.bullying.org

Cyberbullying: A Definition
“Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate , repeated , and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others."
Bill Belsey

Bullying of any kind has three main characteristics :
•Bullying is about an imbalance of power
•Bullying is repeated and intentional use of power to harm and control others
•Cyberbullying is no different to traditional forms of bullying in these respects, yet it is
VERY different in many other respects…

Cyberbullying: What do we know?
• cyberbullying primarily affects youth
• no direct contact between bully and victim, emotions are masked
• the speed with which the cyberbully can hurt the target of their aggression
•
Audience size
• particularly cowardly form of bullying
•
Away from the view and knowledge of parents, teachers
•
Victims cannot hide from the cyberbullies at home

Cyberbullying: What do we know?
• cyberbullies do not see the direct link between cause and effect
• tweens and teens are generally reluctant to report being bullied as they also fear being labeled a "rat“
• fear that by reporting being bullied will make it worse, but with respect to cyberbullying
• fear that adults will remove their access to their mobile phones, computers with Internet access, which really means not being able to access their peer groups.

• cyberbullying underscores the fact that bullying is NOT just a school issue per se, but rather a broader, social issue
• cyberbullying is often beyond legal reach of the school
• cyberbullying often involves communications
( “cyberslang” ) that resemble a foreign "language" to the
"unwired' usually adults. (More on this later…)

Cyberbullying: Research
Source: Harris Interactive / National Crime Prevention Center

Cyberbullying: What do we know?
• One third of teens who frequent the online world have been targets of cyberbullying
•Many teens don’t identify it as “cyberbullying”, they often see it as “teen drama” (This normalizes online bullying behaviour as socially acceptable)
•Social networks were the most obvious and expected of attack settings, with 39 percent of users reporting such cyberbullying
•teens who share their identities and thoughts online are more likely to be targets than are those who lead less active online lives
.
PEW Internet Life Project June 2007

Cyberbullying: What do we know?
•77 percent reported being bullied by instant messaging, 37 percent by e-mail and 31 percent on social networking sites such as
MySpace and Facebook
•When bullied online, 43 percent however, said they did nothing. 32 percent confronted the person who bullied them, and 27 percent told a friend
• In most cases the victims know the aggressors in real life
•Cyberbullying carries a greater impact than “traditional” forms of bullying. It said that “There seems to be a greater sense of powerlessness, frustration and betrayal among victims”.
• Most cyberbullying happens away from school
Source: Kids Help Phone Report, April 2007

Why are some kids doing this?

Welcome to the Always-on generation
Connected… yet disconnected

Why are some kids doing this?

Why are some kids doing this?

Marketing and Modeling
Cyberbullying is cool!

Cyberbullying: Why are kids doing this?
• Absence of adults to establish boundaries / transfer norms and values
• A sense of entitlement
• Everyone can/should be a “star”
(“15 Megabytes of fame”)
• They do it because they can
• Thrill of “anonymity”, “freedom”
(no adults telling kids what to do)
• Heat is increasingly on “traditional” forms of bullying -> under the radar

Cyberbullying: Why are kids doing this?

Cyberbullying: Why are kids doing this?
Online Identities: Experimentation
Remember, you are NOT anonymous online…

It’s all about…
PREVENTION through EDUCATION and AWARENESS

There are no simple solutions.
“Why can’t you just… turn-off?”

Cyberbullying: What can be done?
The are no quick fixes!
Proxy-Servers & The Fallacy of Control

Cyberbullying and the law
• Utter threats cc 264.1
• Extortion by threats cc 346 (1)
• Assault cc 266
• Criminal harassment cc 264 (1)
• Impersonation cc 403
• The Education and Inspections
Act 2006 (U.K.) Department for
Children, Schools and Families
• Ontario bill 212 Safe
Communities Act –Feb. 1, 2008

Cyberbullying and the law

What can be done? Focus on Prevention!
• Don’t share your passwords / PIN numbers with others (It’s like giving away the keys to your car or house) (Tween / teen relationships are volatile)
• Do use Netiquette -Be polite to others online just as you would offline. If someone treats you rudely or meanly - do not respond. Cyberbullies are similar to offline ones in that they WANT you to answer (don't give them the satisfaction).
• Never send a message to others when you are angry

What can be done? Focus on Prevention!
When using Instant
Messaging (“IM”):
Create a “Buddy
List” (people you allow to contact you) of people you really know, not people you have only known online.

What can be done by and for victims?
• Don't reply to messages from cyberbullies!!!
• Victims should not keep this to themselves !
• Do not erase or delete messages from cyberbullies
• Protect yourself -Never arrange to meet with someone you met online unless your parents go with you. If you are meeting them make sure it is in a public place.
Fast Fact: One in five teen Internet users has gone to meet with someone they’ve known online.

What can be done? Adults need to become more engaged
Fast Fact: In the 15 to 17 year old group, 72% visit chatrooms, and of this number,
60% visit adult chatrooms or go into the private rooms.

What can be done by parents?
Would you let your kids drive alone?

What can be done by parents?
• Talk with your kids. Develop a relationship of trust with our kids (so that they will feel that they can approach and confide in us when something concerns them)
• Parents must become more engaged in their kids online activities
• Question why do your kids really need a cell phone
(Think about phones with restrictive options)
• Set clear expectations re. Internet use
• Let kids know that they ARE responsible for their online behaviour towards others
• Create a family contract to support these expectations
• Hold our kids accountable for breaches of these expectations
Promising tool: Puresight -A digital graduated driving license

What can be done by parents?

What can be done by parents?
• Understand that most cyberbullying happens away from school and schools are often limited as to what actions they can legally take
• Don’t chase the technology (focus on the filter between our kids’ ears)
• Be reasonable and try to set reasonable expectations
• Be open with kids and encourage them to come to you if they encounter a problem online
• Consider requiring that all online activity take place in a central area of the home , not in a kid's bedroom
• Try to get your kids to share their blogs or online profiles with you, but be aware that they can have multiple accounts on multiple services.
•Adults need to model appropriate Internet use . Adults need to
“walk the walk”, and not simply “talk the talk”

What can be done by parents?
• Turn of the panic button, recognize/embrace learning opportunities
• Internet access is a privilege, not a right
• DO NOT allow Webcams in bedrooms
• Place computers with Internet access in shared public spaces
• Secure home wireless networks

What can be done by parents?
•Teach / practice proper Netiquette
•Teach / practice critical thinking skills
•Help kids understand that they are NOT truly anonymous online
•Help kids develop greater empathy and understand that their actions have REAL implications for others
•Help students understand that their behaviour online will likely have real implications on their future…
•Keep the lines of communication open
•Should kids be driving alone?!!!

What can be done? By youth
• Limit online personal profile access by others
• Learn how to block access, senders to your accounts
• Be aware of location-based preferences
• Report abuse to MSP / ISP. Don’t be a “Digital
Bystander”
• Use pseudonyms when filling in registration forms and creating online profiles\
• Don’t reply or retaliate, this is what cyberbullies want
• Tell an adult they know and trust

What can be done? By youth
• Understand that “Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others” in person AND online
• Learn to use and practice proper “Netiquette”
• Learn to develop greater empathy, tolerance and understanding of others
• Learn to think critically about what they see online
• Don’t be a “ cyberbystander ”
• Talk to adults they know and trust when their
“Spidey Senses” are tingling

What can be done by educators?

What can be done by educators?
Teach kids to become critical thinkers

What can be done by educators?
Teach kids to become critical thinkers

What can be done by schools?
Change thinking and school culture from one of Banning and Blocking to teaching and learning

What can be done by schools?
These were our computers…

What can be done by schools?
This is our kids’ computer, let’s move forward!

What can be done by schools?
Change thinking and school culture from one of Banning and Blocking to teaching and learning

What can be done by schools?
•All schools should have a clearly stated and easily accessed bullying policy that includes cyberbullying
•Schools should have proactive action plans in addition to reactive policies
•Work with parent councils to write / update clear, easily accessible AUPs and school codes of conduct that includes cyberbullying and post them on our school Web sites
•Help our students understand that what they write, say, do and post online can’t be taken back (Internet archive)
•Create anonymous ways for kids to report cyberbullying
•Encourage students not to be “ digital bystanders ”
•Encourage support student voices and leadership

What can be done by schools?
Give older students leadership opportunities with younger ones

What can be done by schools?
Give older students leadership opportunities with younger ones

What can be done by schools?
Recognize and support first steps towards citizenship / “Netizenship”

What can be done by schools?
November 12 - 17, 2012
Presentation: Virtual Worlds,
Real Consequences

What can be done by schools?
Discuss and model “Netizenship”

What can be done by schools?
Every class NEEDS a blog!

What can be done by schools?
www.kiva.org
Microloans

What can be done by schools?
Got a minute before class begins?
www.freerice.com

What can be done by schools?
Develop empathy, tolerance and understanding www.iearn.org

Develop empathy, tolerance and understanding www.foodforthoughtproject.org

Ask critical questions about real issues www.thefutureoffriendship.org

Develop empathy, tolerance and understanding

Future Implications

Future Implications

Cyberbullying is about people and relationships, NOT technology
Meet John and Ryan Halligan

Some closing thoughts…
• Most young people are great most of the time
• We ARE responsible for our behaviour offline and online
• Adults need to model appropriate technology use
• Being online is a privilege and not a right
• Learn to use and practice proper “ Netiquette ”
• We are not anonymous online , we leave a history behind
• What we say and do online has real world effects for ourselves and others
• Cyberbullying is about people, relationships and
CHOICES, NOT technology

Some closing thoughts…

Some closing thoughts…
• Think BEFORE you click!
• Don’t be a “ cyberbystander”
• What you say on the Internet, you can’t take back
• We don’t have to be “Always On” –Try less virtual reality and a lot more reality
• We need to treat one another the way we would like to be treated in person and online, with RESPECT
• There has NEVER been a more important time to be an adult in the lives of kids

@Bullying_org help@bullying.org