Cyberbullying resource sites

Stopbullying.gov

Commonsensemedia.com

Cyberbullying.org

Stopcyberbullying.org

Utah Safety & Crisis Tipline - http://utahstudentsuccess.weebly.com/utah-safety-and-crisis-tip-line.html

Responding to Cyberbullying

Schools deal with bullying through anti-bully policies, but cyberbullying presents new challenges. As a teacher or school staff member, there are things you can do in the battle against cyberbullying.

Support – Provide the person being bullied with support & reassurance. Tell them that they did the right thing by telling. Encourage the child to get help from parents, school counselor, principle or teachers. Make sure they know that there is support.

Evidence – Help the child keep relevant evidence for investigations. This can be done by taking screenshots on the phone & saving and printing messages or webpages. Do not delete messages from phone.

Information is Key – Give the child advice to make sure it doesn’t happen again. This can include changing passwords, contact details, blocking profiles on social media sites & using the social media bullying reporting tools.

No Retaliation – Ensure that the victim does not retaliate or reply the messages.

Privacy – Encourage the child to keep all personal information private on the internet.

Investigation – The cyberbullying claim must be investigated fully. If the bully is known, ask them to remove the offensive remarks or posts. All records should be kept as part of the investigation.

Report – Abuse on social media sites or through text messages needs to be reported to the website or cell phone providers. Report to law enforcement when there are:

• Threats of violence
• Child pornography or sending sexually explicit messages
• Taking a photo/video of someone in a place they would expect privacy
• Stalking or hate crimes

 

Preventing cyberbullying is not easy, because of the fact that it is on the internet it is hard to monitor & control.

The best way to prevent it is treat it as a whole school community issue, as well as treating it as another form of bullying within the schools anti-bullying policies.

Make sure that the students know that, no matter what form it’s in, all bullying is wrong & will not be tolerated.

Encourage the bystanders to be “up standers” by encouraging them to report any cyberbullying that they see, letting the bullying know that it’s not ok, & not be a part of spreading the gossip or hurtful messages.

How to Report Cyberbullying on Social Media

FACEBOOK – If there is a post that goes against their community standards you can report it by clicking the report link. On the top right of a post there is an arrow, click it and select “I don’t like this post”, you will then be guided with on screen instructions.

INSTAGRAM – If you are tagged in a hurtful or embarrassing photo you can report it by clicking the {…} on the corner of each photo. Instagram will look in to the matter & verify if the image is inappropriate.

You can also report a profile by click a box that at the top right that has an arrow coming out of it. This is also a way to block someone from viewing your profile. However, even being blocked they can still see comments you leave on mutual friends feeds and you can still be mentioned in captions – so make sure once you block someone you also change your username. Again – always screen shot ALL cyberbullying and save for reporting.

TWITTER – Just like on Facebook and Instagram it is important to save the information & then block the user from contacting you and viewing your information. You can also report it by going to twitters help center which walks your though the reporting process.

SNAPCHAT – Snapchat is challenging because the image deletes quickly, again make sure you are taking a screenshot of any cyberbullying that is going on. You can also report it on the snapchat website. Support.snapchat.com/ca/abuse

Einstein

"When technology has replaced human interaction, we will be looking at a generation of idiots."

- Einstein

What did he mean by that?
How would we replace interaction with technology?
Why is it better to talk to people face-to-face?
Why is it important to look people in the eyes?  What are you "telling" them when you look them in the eyes?
What can we do to prove this statement is incorrect?
Do you agree or disagree?

Cyber-bullying consequences

When students cyber-bully another student it is easier than doing it face-to-face.  You can't see the hurt. 

*Remember that no matter what you put on the internet-it is a permanent record.  Ten years from now, employers will be able to see how you treated people online because it will still be available for them to see.

*It is easy to hurt someone's feelings online because they do not completely understand what you mean through a text, a tweet, or an email.  Example:  you should try my mom's meatloaf.  Can you tell if I love it or hate it?  Example:  you shouldn't hang out with Tyler.  Can you tell if I like him or what I mean by that?

*If you are using unkind language you can be looking at possible suspension or facing harassment charges.

Protect yourself from a cyber-bully

• Be careful where you post personal information - By limiting the number of people who have access to your contact information or details about your interests, habits, or employment, you reduce your exposure to bullies that you do not know. This may limit your risk of becoming a victim and may make it easier to identify the bully if you are victimized.
• Avoid escalating the situation - Responding with hostility is likely to provoke a bully and escalate the situation. Depending on the circumstances, consider ignoring the issue. Often, bullies thrive on the reaction of their victims. Other options include subtle actions. For example, if you are receiving unwanted email messages, consider changing your email address. If the bully does not have access to the new address, the problem may stop. If you continue to get messages at your new account, you may have a stronger case for legal action.
• Document the activity - Keep a record of any online activity (emails, web pages, instant messages, etc.), including relevant dates and times. In addition to archiving an electronic version, consider printing a copy.
• Report cyberbullying to the appropriate authorities - If you are being harassed or threatened, report the activity to the local authorities. Law enforcement agencies have different policies, but your local police department or FBI branch are good starting points. Unfortunately, there is a distinction between free speech and punishable offenses, but the legal implications should be decided by the law enforcement officials and the prosecutors. Depending on the activity, it may also be appropriate to report it to school officials who may have separate policies for dealing with activity that involves students.

Why has cyber-bullying become such a problem?

The relative anonymity of the internet is appealing for bullies because it enhances the intimidation and makes tracing the activity more difficult. Some bullies also find it easier to be more vicious because there is no personal contact. Unfortunately, the internet and email can also increase the visibility of the activity. Information or pictures posted online or forwarded in mass emails can reach a larger audience faster than more traditional methods, causing more damage to the victims. And because of the amount of personal information available online, bullies may be able to arbitrarily choose their victims.

Cyberbullying may also indicate a tendency toward more serious behavior. While bullying has always been an unfortunate reality, most bullies grow out of it. Cyberbullying has not existed long enough to have solid research, but there is evidence that it may be an early warning for more violent behavior.

What is cyber-bullying?

Cyberbullying refers to the new, and growing, practice of using technology to harass, or bully, someone else. Bullies used to be restricted to methods such as physical intimidation, postal mail, or the telephone. Now, developments in electronic media offer forums such as email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos to add to the arsenal. Computers, cell phones, and PDAs are new tools that can be applied to an old practice.
Forms of cyberbullying can range in severity from cruel or embarrassing rumors to threats, harassment, or stalking. It can affect any age group; however, teenagers and young adults are common victims, and cyberbullying is a growing problem in schools.

Bullying Behavior Quiz

Have the students write down their answer (true or false) on a separate piece of paper. 

 True or False

1. Only one out of ten children is either a bully or a victim.                                           
2. Children are more likely to be bullied in the junior high than in elementary.                     
3. Most bullying is physical in nature.                                                                                 
4. Girls bully just as much as boys do.  They just do it differently.                              
5. Most victims of bullying report being bullied by many people.                                           
6. The vast majority of children who are bullied tell a teacher.                                     
7. Bullying happens on the way to or from school as well as at school.               
8. Most students who observe bullying don’t think that they should get involved.     
9. Once someone is a bully, they stay a bully forever.                                                    
10. Most victims of bullying are targeted because of outward or physical looks.       
11. Bullying mostly happens in big cities.                                                                             
12. Some students deserve to be bullied.                                                                            
13. Bullying at school will not go away unless adults get involved.                                 
14. Bullying has no long term effect on kids.                                                                                
15. I have bullied another student in the last two years.                                                   
16. Spreading rumors is not bullying.                                                                                            
17. Bullying impacts the academic achievement of the whole school.                          
18. It is easy to spot bullies.                                                                                                    
19. Cyber bullying can occur in e-mail, text messages, and social media.                   
20. Some forms of bullying may result in police actions.                                                   

 Answers

1.                 F

2.                 T

3.                 F

4.                 T

5.                 T

6.                 F

7.                 T

8.                 T

9.                 F

10.             T

11.             F

12.             F

13.             F

14.             F

15.             INDIVIDUAL ANSWER

16.             F

17.             T

18.             F

19.             T

20.             T

Bullying Quiz

This quiz is the most effective when it is given after a couple of bullying lessons have been discussed.  This is a good assessment to see what area needs to be covered in more depth.

True or False
1. Bullies are almost always boys.
2.  Bystanders shouldn't get involved.
3.  People who get bullied usually deserve it.
4.  If you are the target of a bully, you should tell someone.
5.  People who are bullied always get over it after a little while.
6.  If you receive a threat by text or email, you should delete it immediately.
7.  Cyberbullying can be more harmful even though no one is physically hurt.

Give yourself one point for each question answered correctly.
Your score__________.

1. False 2.  False  3.  False  4.  True  5.  False  6.  False  7.  True

Believe in Yourself

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."-Ghandi