This is the third and final blog post about bullying, in honour of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
Children today are more connected than they ever have been. Access to computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones have opened a new world of communication for our children and youth. Unfortunately one of the fall-outs from these technological enhancements is the exposure to cyberbullying, which can occur 24 hours a day. There is no safe zone for cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying:
When a child or youth is being cyberbullied they may avoid conversations about their online activities, appear to be unhappy, irritable, or distressed, particularly after using the computer or viewing their cell phone. There may be a distinct change in how often they use the computer. Children and youth tend to not want to talk to an adult about the experience they may be having as they are afraid it will change the access they have to their electronic devices.
Strategies to keep our children and youth safe from cyberbullying:
Visit PrevNet's website to learn more about cyberbullying.
Children today are more connected than they ever have been. Access to computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones have opened a new world of communication for our children and youth. Unfortunately one of the fall-outs from these technological enhancements is the exposure to cyberbullying, which can occur 24 hours a day. There is no safe zone for cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying:
- Sending mean and sometimes threatening emails or text messages.
- Spreading gossip, secrets or rumours about another person that will damage that person’s reputation.
- Breaking into an email account and sending hurtful materials to others under an assumed identity.
- Creating blogs or websites that have stories, cartoons, pictures or jokes ridiculing others.
- Creating polling websites where visitors are asked to rate individuals’ attributes in a negative manner.
- Taking an embarrassing photo of someone with a digital camera and emailing that photo to others.
- Engaging someone in instant messaging, tricking them into revealing personal information and then forwarding that information to others.
- Using someone else’s password in order to change their profile to reflect sexual, racist and other content that may offend others.
- Posting false or hurtful messages on online bulletin boards or in chat rooms.
- Deliberately excluding others from instant messaging and email contact lists.
When a child or youth is being cyberbullied they may avoid conversations about their online activities, appear to be unhappy, irritable, or distressed, particularly after using the computer or viewing their cell phone. There may be a distinct change in how often they use the computer. Children and youth tend to not want to talk to an adult about the experience they may be having as they are afraid it will change the access they have to their electronic devices.
Strategies to keep our children and youth safe from cyberbullying:
- Always keep your computer in a common area like the kitchen, so you can monitor online activity and reactions to online communication.
- Always charge all cell phones in your room overnight.
- Always set up email, chat accounts and blogs with your children so you are aware of the type of information they are posting online. Keep a list of your teen’s IM and email contacts so you can verify each person.
- Always encourage your child to apologize to the person they have hurt. Emphasize the consequences if bullying does not stop – the effect it has on other people, the loss of all cellphone and Internet privileges, and possible legal consequences.
Visit PrevNet's website to learn more about cyberbullying.
