What is Cyber Bullying?
Cyberbullying is when a student is harassed, humiliated, or embarrassed by another student using the Internet or mobile phone. Bullying is no longer about the strong picking on the weak in the schoolyard. The physical assault has been replaced by a 24 hour, seven days a week online bashing. Savvy but malicious students are using Instant Messaging, e-mails, chat rooms, websites and cell phones to humiliate thier peers. No longer can parents count on seeing the tell-tale physical signs of bullying—a black eye, bloody lip, torn clothes. But the damage done by cyber bullies is no less real, and can be infinitely more painful.
Cyber Bullying Statistics
How pervalant is cyber bullying? i-SAFE surveyed students in grades 4 through 12 on cyber bullying, and this is what they had to say:
- 42 percent of kids have been bullied while online. One in four has had it happen more than once.
- 35 percent of kids have been threatened online. Nearly one in five has had it happen more than once.
- 21 percent of kids have received mean or threatening e-mails or other messages.
- 58 percent of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
- 53 percent of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than one in three has done it more than once.
- 58 percent of kids have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
2009 i-SAFE survey of 40,000 students
Cyber Bullying Tips
- Tell a trusted adult about the bullying, and keep telling until you find an adult who takes action.
- Don’t open or read messages from cyber bullies.
- Tell a teacher or administrator at your school if it is school related.
- Don’t erase the messages—they may be needed to take action.
- Protect yourself: Never agree to meet face to face 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.
What Can You Do
Cyber Bullying affects everyone, students, parents, educators, and communities. That is why it is important that everyone be aware of the hazards in cyberspace and learn how to avoid cyber harassment.
Educators: to learn more about cyber harrassment, cyber bulling, and cyber stalking become certified to teach i-SAFE in the classroom. i-SAFE’s online professional development program, i-LEARN Online, provides a series of e-safety video lessons concerning a range of internet safety topics which can be completed on any computer with Internet access. To begin watching i-LEARN Online click here.
Parents: Surveys show that 47% of parents feel their ability to shelter their children from inappropriate material on the Internet is limited; and 26% of students say their parents would, at a minimum, disapprove if they knew what they did and where they went on the Internet. That is why parents are encouraged to become i-Parents. The i-Parent Campaign trains to learn about important internet safety topics like cyber bullying by providing them with resources they need to educate and empower other parents to create a cyber-safe home. To begin watching parent videos go to i-Parent Online click here.
Students: Unfortunately, there are dangers in Cyberspace that have the same consequences as hazards in the real world. Being a Student Mentor educates students how to avoid risky online situations and teaches them how to respond appropriatly. Now there is a program for students who want to promote online safety and DRiVE the 411 back to friends, family, and community. Students that want to participate in the i-SAFE Mentoring Program click here.