Cyber Bullying

Cyber Bullying

By Elizabeth Ward

What is Cyber Bullying?

• Cyber Bullying is when one minor is targeted by another minor through threats, torments, harassment, humiliation, or by other ways.

• Cyber Bullying is done by using technological devices such as the internet or cell phones.

The Victim is Attacked through

• Instant Messaging• Texting (running up cell phone bills)• Stealing Passwords• Blogs• Websites• Sending Pictures through e-mail or phones• Internet Polls• Interactive Gaming• Sending Porn or other Junk e-mail or IMs• Impersonation

Types of Cyber Bullies

• The vengeful Angel- They feel that it is right to get back at a person who has done something wrong.

• Power Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds- They feel that they should prove their knowledge to people.

Types of Cyber Bullies Cont.

• Mean Girls- Yes, this does happen, and it tends to be the cruelest. Girls attack other girls or guys for the fun of humiliating them.

• Inadvertent Cyber Bulling- someone who loses their cool easily and doesn’t realize that they are saying hurtful things.

Statistics of Cyber Bullying

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have it happen more than once

• 35% have been threatened online. I in 5 have it happen more than once.

• 21% received mean or threatening e-mails• 58% of kids has had someone say mean or

hurtful things to them online. 4 out of 10 have it happen more than once.

Statistics of Cyber Bullying Cont.

• 53% have said something mean or hurtful to someone else. 1 in 3 have done it more than once.

• 58% have not told an adult about it.

2004 i-SAFE survey of 1500 students grades 4-8

Statistics Cont.

Cyber Bullying can lead to Suicide

• One father’s story (read the second page)

• Cyber Bullying Led to Teen’s Suicide

Student’s Stories

Joe’s Story

Broken Friendship

You Can’t Take It Back

Keisha’s Crime

Based on True Stories

How to Tell if Someone is being Bullied?

• Has their behavior changed drastically within the past few days or weeks?

• Have they been spending dramatically more or less time on the internet?

• Have the cell phone bills gone through the roof due to text messages?

Preventing Cyber Bullying

• Google Yourself- check name, nicknames, address, phone numbers, e-mail etc. Put quotations around the information when searching.

• Don’t accept things from strangers (a “12 year old girl” could be a “45 year old man”)

• Come straight home after School (Parents should put a time limit on the computer)

Prevention Tips Cont.

• Don’t provoke fights (Don’t argue with anyone online. Things could be said that could be used against you)

• Don’t tell people personal information

• Parents: Get to know your child’s friends (Don’t place a computer in the corner of their bedroom. Keep it public and monitor it.)

What to Do if Your being Bullied?

• Tell a trusted adult. Keep telling until an adult takes action

• Don’t open or read messages sent by cyber bullies

• Tell your school if it’s school related• Don’t erase messages

What to Do Cont.

• If bullied through chat rooms or IMs, “block” them.

• Protect yourself- never agree to meet the person

• If threatened with harm, call the police!

For More Information: Check out the Websites I Researched

• www.stopcyberbullying.org (Background)• www.isafe.org (Statistics)• www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/education/CyberBullying.p

df (Dad’s Story)

• www.netsmartz.org/stories/canttake.htm • www.netsmartz.org/stories/friendship.htm• www.netsmarts.org/stories/keisha.htm• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dubA2vhIlrg&fe

ature=related• http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=3882520&p

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