Bring an End to Cyber Bullying

Last Spring I brought you the piece, Bullying is Abuse, regarding the case of 15 year-old Phoebe Prince, who committed suicide in Boston following instances of bulling.  Now with technology in every child’s hands bullying is even easier, quicker and can be more widespread with only the click of a button or mouse. Children can easily text images and rumors, and sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can all serve as platforms to abuse and deface one another.

This online and technical bullying is called cyber bullying, and includes the use of the internet, interactive/digital technologies (digital videos and photos), or the use of cell phones or PDAs to harass.  Cyber bullying can vary from starting cruel or embarrassing rumors, threatening  or harassing a victim (mentally, physically, or sexually), or stalking.  Cyber bullying occurs in all age groups; however, teens are the most common perpetrators and victims. There are two kinds of cyber bullying: direct attacks (messages sent to directly to the victim) and cyber bullying by proxy (when the bully uses others to help target the victim, either with or without the accomplice’s knowledge).

Cyber Bullying Statistics:

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 has had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 has done it more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

*Based on 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students grades 4-8

Cyber Bullying Tips:

• Tell a trusted adult about the bullying, and keep telling until the adult takes action.
• Don’t open or read messages by cyber bullies.
• Tell your school if it is school related. Schools have a bullying solution in place.
• Don’t erase the messages— they may be needed to take action.
• Protect yourself— never agree to meet with the person or with anyone you meet online.
• If bullied through chat or instant messaging, the “bully” can often be blocked.
• If you are threatened with harm, inform the local police.

If you are a child or teen facing bulling please do not be afraid and report the abuse to a trusted adult right away or contact one of the following Crisis Hotlines for help.

Please also see the following resources and lists: Stopping Bullies: Cyber bullying and Digital Citizenship for Classrooms, Books for Children and Parents of Victims of Abuse and Links for Abused Children and Parents