Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line. Today’s Objective: You are going to analyze online bullying behaviors that “cross the line,” learn about the various.

Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying: Crossing the LineCrossing the Line

Today’s Objective:Today’s Objective:

You are going to analyze online You are going to analyze online bullying behaviors that “cross the bullying behaviors that “cross the line,” learn about the various ways line,” learn about the various ways that students can be cyberbullied, that students can be cyberbullied, including flaming, deceiving, and including flaming, deceiving, and harassing, adopt the point of view of harassing, adopt the point of view of teens who have been cyberbullied, teens who have been cyberbullied, and offer solutions.and offer solutions.

Warm up question #1Warm up question #1

What are some of the ways that you What are some of the ways that you and your friends tease each other and your friends tease each other online for fun?online for fun?

Possible AnswersPossible Answers

Send jokes back and forthSend jokes back and forth Alter photos of one another, in a Alter photos of one another, in a

goofy (not mean) waygoofy (not mean) way

Warm up question #2Warm up question #2

When does teasing “cross the line” When does teasing “cross the line” and become harmful? and become harmful?

What are some signs, and what does What are some signs, and what does it feel like to be in that situation?it feel like to be in that situation?

Possible AnswersPossible Answers

The teasing begins to feel scary, not The teasing begins to feel scary, not funny anymore.funny anymore.

You feel helpless.You feel helpless. You feel like your reputation might You feel like your reputation might

suffer.suffer. You are worried about your safety.You are worried about your safety.

HarassingHarassing

Bombarding someone with messages Bombarding someone with messages over digital media, or repeated over digital media, or repeated contact when it is least expectedcontact when it is least expected

DeceivingDeceiving

Using fake names Using fake names Posing as someone elsePosing as someone else creating a fake profile about creating a fake profile about

someone elsesomeone else

FlamingFlaming

Saying mean things, usually in ALL Saying mean things, usually in ALL CAPS, and often in a public forum CAPS, and often in a public forum with the intention to humiliatewith the intention to humiliate

Hate SpeechHate Speech

A verbal attack targeting someone A verbal attack targeting someone because of their race, gender, because of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientationreligion, or sexual orientation

These are examples of situations that These are examples of situations that definitely “cross the line” and are definitely “cross the line” and are considered cyberbullying. (However, considered cyberbullying. (However, they are not the only examples.)they are not the only examples.)

Why might someone not want to talk Why might someone not want to talk to other people about a cyberbullying to other people about a cyberbullying situation?situation?

RememberRemember

No matter what label you put on a No matter what label you put on a situation, if it makes you feel situation, if it makes you feel uncomfortable, upset, or hurt, you uncomfortable, upset, or hurt, you should talk to someone about it.should talk to someone about it.

VideoVideo

Now you are going to watch a video Now you are going to watch a video of a teen reflecting on a of a teen reflecting on a cyberbullying experience.cyberbullying experience.

““Stacey’s Story – When Rumors Stacey’s Story – When Rumors Escalate.”Escalate.”

http://video.commonsensemedia.org/http://video.commonsensemedia.org/digitalcitizenship/DC_Stacey_101012.digitalcitizenship/DC_Stacey_101012.mp4mp4

Video Discussion QuestionsVideo Discussion Questions

Why did the girls start to harass and Why did the girls start to harass and threaten Stacey online in the first threaten Stacey online in the first place?place?

AnswerAnswer

The girls started to bully Stacey The girls started to bully Stacey because of a misunderstanding. It because of a misunderstanding. It seems that they thought she was seems that they thought she was trying to flirt with one of the girl’s trying to flirt with one of the girl’s boyfriends. It turns out the boy was boyfriends. It turns out the boy was actually Stacey’s cousin. actually Stacey’s cousin. Cyberbullying Stacey was not an Cyberbullying Stacey was not an appropriate response even if the guy appropriate response even if the guy had not been her cousin.had not been her cousin.

Video Discussion QuestionsVideo Discussion Questions

When do you think the girls’ behavior When do you think the girls’ behavior “crossed the line”?“crossed the line”?

AnswerAnswer

Pretty much right from the Pretty much right from the beginning. They called her names beginning. They called her names publicly on MySpace and said she publicly on MySpace and said she was stupid. But the threats did get was stupid. But the threats did get worse over time.worse over time.

Video Discussion QuestionsVideo Discussion Questions

Stacey says, “People talk really big, Stacey says, “People talk really big, when there’s, like, miles between when there’s, like, miles between you.” What do you think she means you.” What do you think she means by this statement?by this statement?

AnswersAnswers

People say things that aren’t true People say things that aren’t true online because they are not face to online because they are not face to face with you.face with you.

People are meaner online because People are meaner online because you’re not there to react.you’re not there to react.

People make bigger threats online People make bigger threats online because they feel invincible behind because they feel invincible behind their computers.their computers.

Video Discussion QuestionsVideo Discussion Questions

In what ways might the online In what ways might the online context make the situation worse context make the situation worse than if the bully had harassed Stacey than if the bully had harassed Stacey offline?offline?

AnswersAnswers It’s more public. Many MySpace friends It’s more public. Many MySpace friends

and users who don’t have anything to do and users who don’t have anything to do with the incident can see the postings.with the incident can see the postings.

The offenders may be bolder over the The offenders may be bolder over the Internet, saying things they might not say Internet, saying things they might not say in person.in person.

People may say things that are meaner People may say things that are meaner online because it seems that actions are online because it seems that actions are separated from consequences. separated from consequences.

Bullying is no worse online than offline Bullying is no worse online than offline because the impact on the victim is the because the impact on the victim is the same.same.

Video Discussion QuestionsVideo Discussion Questions

Stacey’s mom says that Stacey Stacey’s mom says that Stacey should call the school and report the should call the school and report the incidents. Stacey responds that it incidents. Stacey responds that it would “just make it worse.” would “just make it worse.”

Do you think this is true? Do you think this is true? Why or why not?Why or why not?

AnswersAnswers

Find a trusted adultFind a trusted adult There are people such as counselors, There are people such as counselors,

psychologists, and other school staff psychologists, and other school staff who might be trusted adults.who might be trusted adults.

Maybe Stacey is scared. Perhaps Maybe Stacey is scared. Perhaps Stacey’s mom can go with her to talk Stacey’s mom can go with her to talk to adults at her school.to adults at her school.

Case StudiesCase Studies

Now you are going to read one of the two Now you are going to read one of the two case studies and answer the questions case studies and answer the questions with your group. Be prepared to share with your group. Be prepared to share your responses with the class. your responses with the class.

Row 1 = Case study #1Row 1 = Case study #1 Row 2 = Case study #2Row 2 = Case study #2 Row 3 = Case study #1Row 3 = Case study #1 Row 4 = Case study #2Row 4 = Case study #2 Row 5 = Case study #1Row 5 = Case study #1

Questions for case study #1Questions for case study #1

What forms of cyberbullying did the What forms of cyberbullying did the students use on Eric? What is your students use on Eric? What is your evidence?evidence?

How do you think Eric feels? What How do you think Eric feels? What elements of this situation make him elements of this situation make him feel this way?feel this way?

Do you think Eric should tell his Do you think Eric should tell his parents about the cyberbullying?parents about the cyberbullying?

Questions for case study #1Questions for case study #1 What qualities do you think a “trusted What qualities do you think a “trusted

adult” should have? Who are these people adult” should have? Who are these people in your life? In what ways can a trusted in your life? In what ways can a trusted adult actually be effective?adult actually be effective?

If Alexis was the bully, what could school If Alexis was the bully, what could school personnel, such as the principal, do or say personnel, such as the principal, do or say to Alexis to make her realize that her to Alexis to make her realize that her behavior is wrong?behavior is wrong?

Have you ever been part of, or heard of, a Have you ever been part of, or heard of, a situation similar to this? If so, share the situation similar to this? If so, share the story with the group without using names story with the group without using names or details.or details.

Questions for case study #2Questions for case study #2

What forms of cyberbullying did Sara’s What forms of cyberbullying did Sara’s friends use on Tanya? What is your friends use on Tanya? What is your evidence?evidence?

Do you think there is ever a good reason Do you think there is ever a good reason for impersonating someone else online or for impersonating someone else online or creating a profile about them?creating a profile about them?

Do you think Sara knew what her friends Do you think Sara knew what her friends were doing? What is Sara’s responsibility were doing? What is Sara’s responsibility in this?in this?

Questions for case study #2Questions for case study #2

What do you think the consequences What do you think the consequences should be for Sara and her friends if the should be for Sara and her friends if the school finds out?school finds out?

If you found out about what happened, If you found out about what happened, would this be a reason not to vote for would this be a reason not to vote for Sara?Sara?

Have you ever been part of, or heard of, a Have you ever been part of, or heard of, a situation similar to this? If so, share the situation similar to this? If so, share the story with the group without using names story with the group without using names or details.or details.

RemindersReminders It can be hard to judge someone’s It can be hard to judge someone’s

intentions online. intentions online. No matter how a message is sent, words No matter how a message is sent, words

used with the intention of hurting used with the intention of hurting someone are taken very seriously by someone are taken very seriously by schools, parents, and even the police. schools, parents, and even the police.

You should tell trusted adults if you You should tell trusted adults if you observe or are involved in cyberbullying, observe or are involved in cyberbullying, and you must report it to the school, their and you must report it to the school, their parents, or other trusted adults when parents, or other trusted adults when someone has threatened to hurt someone someone has threatened to hurt someone else.else.

Wrap up question #1Wrap up question #1

What does it feel like when a teasing What does it feel like when a teasing situation “crosses the line” from situation “crosses the line” from harmless to harmful?harmless to harmful?

Possible AnswerPossible Answer

When teasing no longer feels funny When teasing no longer feels funny and starts to feel upsetting or scary, and starts to feel upsetting or scary, then students should start taking it then students should start taking it seriously. People can feel helpless, seriously. People can feel helpless, ganged up on, worried about their ganged up on, worried about their reputation, worried about their reputation, worried about their safety, etc.safety, etc.

Wrap up question #2Wrap up question #2

What are some different forms of What are some different forms of cyberbullying?cyberbullying?

AnswerAnswer

Harassment, which feels virtually Harassment, which feels virtually impossible to escape impossible to escape

Deception, because it is dishonest to Deception, because it is dishonest to impersonate someone else, and it can impersonate someone else, and it can damage their reputationdamage their reputation

Flaming, because of the extreme and cruel Flaming, because of the extreme and cruel languagelanguage

Hate speech, which is discriminatory, and Hate speech, which is discriminatory, and very damaging to someone’s reputationvery damaging to someone’s reputation

Wrap up question #3Wrap up question #3

What advice would you give to What advice would you give to someone who feels cyberbullied?someone who feels cyberbullied?

AnswerAnswer

Talk to friends about what you are Talk to friends about what you are going through. Tell an adult you going through. Tell an adult you trust, especially if you feel you are trust, especially if you feel you are being flamed, deceived, harassed, being flamed, deceived, harassed, are the target of hate speech.are the target of hate speech.