One of the serious threats which all kids who have a presence online faces is cyberbullying. Thanks to the border-less online world bullying has since spilled over from the school compound to the online world with serious consequences. With the anonymity which is possible online bullies comes in all shapes, age and sizes! Here victim can become the bully and the bully can then become a victim.

Kids who so far has been suffering silently as victim of bullying suddenly finds that they can become the bully and take out their revenge and anger. If you have been following the news you likely have come across the news of cyberbullying cases and the deadly consequences.

Parents cannot possibly prevent their children from venturing online, but they must equip themselves with the knowledge so as to guide their children in the best way, then only will they be able to ensure internet safety for kids.

The following lesson for parents is on cyberbullying, understanding what it is, the harmful effects and tips on what to do in particular situations.

***

Definition & Background

Cyberbullying simply refers to the act of bullying online. This type of bullying can consist of any of the following actions committed by an individual or group to another individual or group:

• Threats of violence
• Hate speech
• Harassment
• Peer pressure
• Bribery
• Psychological abuse
• Extortion

Further, these offenses are often committed by people impersonating someone else, anonymously, or under the guise of a group, making accountability and preventability difficult.

The definition of cyberbullying has broadened over the years since it has expanded to include any number of internet connected devices, web sites, behaviors, victims, and victimizers. For example, in its earliest incarnations, cyberbullying mostly consisted of one person or small group of people attacking each other via an internet-enabled desktop computer. These earlier offenses, while certainly harmful, had some limitations in the amount of damage they could cause because:

• Most computer usage was still limited to desktop computers
• Broadband internet connectivity was more limited
• Most mobile devices were not equipped with cameras and/or data services
• Social Networks were not mainstream

Given these constraints, you did not hear about it as much as it was generally less frequent, and was usually confined to smaller groups.

Today, things are different. Most homes and schools have broadband connectivity, portable Internet enabled computers and devices prevail, most mobile phones have photo, video, and data services, and socializing online has long hit mainstream. Given the pervasiveness and social acceptance of these technologies, it has become very easy for one person to not only capture and share information easily, but for that information to spread almost instantly.

Cyberbullying Facts

The cyber bullying statistics can be quite daunting. For example, a study done by isafe.org on 1,500 students grades 4-8 found the following: [1]

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

So what does this mean for the victims? A recent survey conducted by Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin at cyberbullying.us yielded the following results:

“Looking at the most recent victims of cyber bullying, both boys and girls are likely to report feeling angry, sad, and embarrassed. Slightly more girls than boys feel frustrated, while significantly more boys are scared as a result of cyberbullying.” [2]

Similarities and Differences to Offline Behavior

Cyberbullying varies dramatically from offline bullying in many ways. For starters, the torment is no longer limited to face-to-face interactions in a controlled environment. It now carries over from the schoolyard, to the home, and the entire online community. Also, as mentioned above, bullies can come in all shapes and sizes, with either known or unknown identities. No longer is it about the one big bully picking on the smaller kid in the schoolyard. Anyone with an Internet connection of any kind can bully almost anyone else. Further, not only is cyber bullying more difficult to prevent, it can spread very quickly and leave a permanent online trail that can have devastating long-term consequences for both the bullied and the bully.

Harmful Effects

The effects of cyberbullying can hurt and hurt quickly. There have been numerous stories in the news of children, teens, and young adults who have been driven to suicide or violent crime as a result of being bullied online. While these tend to be the more extreme cases, it can have a serious detrimental effect on a victim’s self-esteem, emotional well-being, and sense of personal safety. As a result, this can often lead to any number of further negative consequences including, but not limited to depression, despondence, self-destructive behavior and poor performance in school or work just to name a few.

Recognizing if Cyberbullying is a Problem With Your Child and How to Stop Cyberbullying

Parents and teachers are best equipped to recognize changes in behavior that might be the result of cyberbullying. Communication with your child, his/her teachers, coaches, and friends is a must. Also, being “friends” with your child online and understanding how they “live” online as well as offline will not only help you to stay informed, but can also let your child know that you are there. Opinions for cyberbullying safety vary greatly on this issue, and certainly vary based on the age of the child in question. Whether you do or don’t become online friends with your child, a discussion with your child about it can’t hurt.

What to do if you Discover Your Child is Involved in a Situation Involving Cyberbullying

Talk to your child, make sure they are OK, and make sure they know you are on their side. Some children can be embarrassed or ashamed of the situation they might find themselves in. It is important to have an open dialogue with them to ensure their cyber safety. You can follow these Cyber safety tips for parents.

Next, if the offenses are serious enough, you should consider contacting your child’s school and/or your local law enforcement agency. Just because it happens online, you should not take these offenses lightly. Also, be sure to NOT erase any traces of what you find online as these traces (e.g. comments, messages, photos, etc.) can help in taking action against a cyber bully.

Finally, contact the web site(s), social networks, or mobile phone providers that might have been used as a platform for these offenses. They most often take these offenses seriously and are willing to help stop and prevent these behaviors.

Laws That Help

Cyberbullying legislation has been introduced in New York, Missouri, Rhode Island and Maryland. In June, 2008, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) proposed a federal law that would criminalize acts of cyberbullying.  [3]

References

1. http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op_id=media_cyber_bullying
2. http://www.cyberbullying.us/research.php
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullying

 ***

The role of parents in the digital age has changed drastically now. Now no parents can claim to be fulfilling their parental duties fully unless they are making every effort to learn everything about what is going on online and are guiding their children every step of the way. Today cyberbullying is among the most serious threats for any kid who is venturing online. Parents need to be constantly monitoring their kids online which can only be possible if they use a monitoring program and services like that of SafetyWeb.

Content within *** SafetyWeb.com