Cyberbullying

 

 

 

Cyberbullying is when children harass others through instant messaging, chat rooms, email or text messages over a cell phone. 

 

What can you do?

- First, be award of this growing problem.

 

- Educate yourself. This is just a new way to bully. The signs, causes, and remedies for cyberbullying are similar to those of  traditional bullying. Read Dr. Hardy's article on bullying.

 

- Talk to your children about it. Ask direct questions. "Have you or any of friends ever been harassed online?”  

 

- Ask them what may have happened with their friends, this makes it easier to start a dialog.

 

Let your children know they can protect themselves.

- Block emails from bullies

 

- Block IDs in IM/AIM that are saying hurtful things or harassing them

 

- Never give out your full name or any personal information online, always first name only!

 

- Do not respond to bullies- TELL YOUR PARENTS or another adult! They are not alone.

 

 

 

Links for More Information

 

Scholastic: "Are you being bullied?"

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/bullying/bullying_news/index.asp?article=cyberbullying&topic=0

 

Cyberbully.org

http://www.cyberbully.org/

 

Great Britain has an outstanding effort to eliminate cyberbullying: http://www.besafeonline.org/English/bullying_online.html

 

US Department of Justice reference lists

http://www.ncjrs.gov/internetsafety/cyber.html