Bullying and Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text. Cyberbullies use either a computer or a phone to send harassing email or text messages. Cyberbullies are malicious aggresors who seek implicit or explicit pleasure or profit through the mistreatment of another individual.

To be defined as cyberbullying, mistreatment must involve harmful behavior of a repetitive nature.

 In a survey of 1,500 internet-using adolescents who reported their experiences with cyberbullying, almost 80% said that  cyberbullying occurs online, while 32% of males and 36% of females reported experiencing cyberbullying.

• Almost 40% were disrespected, over 12% were threatened, and about 5% were scared for their safety.

• Negative emotional responses included significant amounts of frustration, anger and sadness.

• 28% of youth indicated that they had been bullied via email.

• Over 40% of youth who were cyberbullied did not tell anyone about the incident.

• Flaming -online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language

• Harassment-repeatedly sending nasty, mean and insulting messages

• Denigration-"dissing" someone online; sending or posting gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendship

• Impersonation-pretending to be someone else and sending or pasting material to get that person in trouble or danger or damage that person's reputation or friendships

• Outing-sharing someone's secrets or embarrassing information or images online

• Trickery- tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information, then sharing it online

• Exclusion-intentionally and cruelly excluding someone form an online group

• Cyberstalking-repeated, intense harassment and denigration that includes threats or creates significant fear

A child may be a victim of a cyberbully if he or she….

• Unexpectedly stops using the computer

• Appears nervous or jumpy when an instant message or email appears

• Appears uneasy about going to school or outside in general

• Appears to be angry, depressed, or frustrated after using the computer

• Avoids discussions about what he or she is doing on the computer

• Becomes abnormally withdrawn from usual friends and family members

 

A child may be cyberbullying others if he or she…

 

• Quickly switches screens or closes programs when you walk by

• Uses the computer at all hours of the night

• Gets unusually upset if he or she cannot use the computer

• Laughs excessively while using the computer

• Avoids discussions about what he or she is doing on the computer

• Is using multiple online accounts, or an account that is not his or her own

• Teachers, administrators, and parents should proactively address the potentially negative uses of technology.

• Parents must regularly monitor the online activities in which children are engaged.

• Parents should also encourage an open dialogue with their children regarding issues of safety and responsible internet use.

• Teachers must take care to supervise students as they use computers in the classroom and should consider incorporating discussions of issues related to cyber safety in their curriculum where appropriate.

• School liaison officers and law enforcement officials must investigate all instances of harassment-including electronic bullying-and hold responsible parties accountable.

Click here to view a PDF version of our Cyberbullying informational PowerPoint.

Bullying means the repeated intimidation of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical, verbal, written, electronically transmitted, or emotional abuse, or through attacks on the property of another.

It may include, but not limited to, actions such as verbal taunts, name-calling, extortion of money or possessions, and put-downs, which could include ethnically-based, gender-based slurs.

Harassment means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture that interferes with a student's educational performance or makes them fearful. For more information about both Bullying and Harassment see school board policy 5.321*