AS CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE MORE AND MORE DEVOTED TO THE USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - THE PHONE, THE INTERNET, INSTANT MESSAGING AND THE LIKE - THEY ARE ALSO POTENTIAL TARGETS OF CYBERBULLIES.
WHAT IS A CYBERBULLY??
CYBERBULLIES USE ELECTRONIC MEANS TO THREATEN, HARASS, EMBARRASS, EXPOSE (PERSONAL INFORMATION), EXCLUDE, TRICK, OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH ONE?S SENSE OF HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND SAFETY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
IF SOMEONE IS REPEATEDLY TEXTING YOUR CHILD THAT ?NOBODY LIKES YOU? OR ?WE THINK YOU?RE UGLY? OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD DISTRESS YOUR CHILD ? YOUR CHILD IS BEING VICTIMIZED.
IF SOMEONE PRETENDS TO BE YOUR CHILD AND IS SENDING MESSAGES, IN YOUR CHILD?S NAME ? YOUR CHILD IS BEING VICTIMIZED.
IF YOUR CHILD IS GETTING CONSTANT EMAILS, THREATS, ETC. YOUR CHILD IS BEING VICTIMIZED.
IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TELL YOUR CHILD TO "JUST IGNORE IT". IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT. THE CYBER BULLY CREATES A SENSE OF UNRELENTING STRESS AND FEAR.
PREVALENCE:
IN A RECENT FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, 2006 TELEPHONE SURVEY OF PRETEENS (6-11 YEAR-OLDS) AND TEENS (12-17 YEAR-OLDS) :
45% OF PRETEENS AND 30% OF TEENS WHO HAD BEEN CYBERBULLIED RECEIVED THE MESSAGES WHILE AT SCHOOL 44% OF PRETEENS AND 70% OF TEENS WHO HAD BEEN CYBER BULLIED RECEIVED THE MESSAGES AT HOME.
SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY BE A VICTIM OF CYBERBULLYING:
SEEMS TO BECOME ANGRY/AGITATED/SULLEN/TEARFUL AFTER COMPUTER USE.
SEEMS ANXIOUS OR WORRIED ABOUT SOCIALIZING IN/OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
QUICKLY SWITCHES THE SCREEN WHEN YOU ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
FOR NO APPARENT REASON, STOPS USING THE COMPUTER.
SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY BE A CYBER BULLY:
QUICKLY CHANGES THE SCREEN WHEN YOU ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
EXCESSIVE COMPUTER USE PARTICULARLY WHEN HE/SHE SHOULD BE IN BED ASLEEP.
MAY SEEM MORE BELLIGERENT.
HAS MULTIPLE EMAIL ACCOUNTS.
WHAT A PARENT CAN DO:
ASK YOUR CHILD IF HE/SHE HAS EVER EXPERIENCED THREATS, TAUNTS, ETC. VIA ELECTRONIC MEANS.
TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT NOT DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SELF OR THE FAMILY.
PUT THE COMPUTER IN A FAMILY AREA.
LET YOU CHILD TALK TO YOU ABOUT HIS/HER CONCERNS. APPROACH PROBLEM SOLVING AS A TEAM.
TELL YOUR CHILD THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND "SEEMS NICE" DOES NOT MEAN THEIR INTENTIONS ARE NICE.
IF YOUR CHILD IS BULLIED, KEEP COPIES OF ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS.
FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE PROVIDER.
CONSIDER CHANGING EMAIL ADDRESS, ETC.
CONSIDER TALKING WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. FIND OUT WHAT STEPS THE SCHOOL IS TAKING TO EDUCATE THE STUDENT AND STAFF ABOUT THIS ISSUE.