1. Understanding The Wired Child’s World

2. 74% of kids have Internet access in 3 or more places besides home School Friend’s home Public places – Coffee shop – Library Cell phones Source: NCMEC Online Victimization Study: Five Years Later 2006

3. Cyberbullying Use of the Internet or cell phone to send hurtful messages of post information to damage someone’s reputation and friendships.

4. Dangerous Liaisons CBullying = rapidly growing, maybe more widespread and more harmful than ‘conventional’ bullying. – Rate Quadrupled in 5 Years (6% to 20/42%) Even more difficult to detect than ‘conventional’ When 3rd parties get involved, it escalates quickly and can be very dangerous.

5. Girls are twice as likely to be victims AND perpetrators. 62% say that they have been cyber bullied by another student at school. 46% say they have been cyber bullied by a friend. 55% say they do not know who had cyber bullied them. Kowalski, et al. 2005 (APA)

6. The Players Vigilante Power Hungry Bent on Revenge Mean Girls Inadvertent Cyberbullying

7. Let Me Count the Ways… Exclusion Cyber gossip Forwarding private emails Stealing someone’s password and posing as that person Posting personal/defamatory info on social networking site or public website

8. Social Networking Can be a great way to connect with friends Can ruin a child’s reputation Can affect a child’s employment or acceptance into school Can be ripe grounds for Cyberbullying

9. Social Networking Sites 61% of 13-17 year-olds have a personal profile on a social networking site 50% of those kids have pictures of themselves posted online

10. Cell Phones Share and Post Digital Photographs/Videos Internet Access Text Messaging “Sexting”

11. “Sexting” Isn’t Sexy… Rarely kept ‘private’ Rapidly changing relationships Distrib./Possession of Child Porn

12. Most victims of Cyberbullying do not tell their parents!! – Only 20% tell – Nearly ½ would tell a friend – Most fear that adults will only make the problem worse Fight Crime: Invest in Kids 2006

13. Why don’t kids speak up? Fear of Repercussions: Getting in trouble Losing Internet privileges Embarrassing Making the situation worse Being characterized as a “snitch”

14. Let’s Talk!!! Discussion opportunities are a MUST! – Make the time 70% of kids are bystanders. Encourage those children to report concerns. – Create opportunities REPORTING MUST BECOME THE NORM!!!

15. Are there laws to protect us from Cyberbullying? Senate Bill 818 Effective 8/28/2008 – Requires schools to have written policy to report harassment and stalking to law enforcement – This includes electronic communication. – Penalties Felony – 4/$5K Misdemeanor – 1/$1K

16. A School’s Challenge Most harmful incidents happen while off campus. – Because this is where they have much greater unsupervised use. Harmful impact is being felt at school – Because this is where students are physically together

17. Balancing Act Authority – Legal right to impose formal discipline or restrictions Responsibility – Legal obligation to exercise reasonable precautions and to respond to reports of concerns

18. Legal Threshold School officials have the authority to impose discipline for harm caused by off campus online speech ONLY when that speech has, or a reasonable person would anticipate it will: – Cause an impact at school – That is substantial (not just annoying) – Interferes with the rights of a student or students to be secure and/or receive an education – Or is a “True Threat”

19. Where We Stand Now… Courts are not clear on standards for on v. off campus speech. – No real ‘test’ to date involving student v. student off campus + substantial disruption ‘TBD’

20. Unknowns… Schools Civil Rights Liability – Can’t control off campus activity – Can control if a student is at school Parental Liability – Minors who engage in intentional wrongdoing can be held $ responsible PDD’s & Review/Access by staff – Can’t ban, but can regulate if on campus Subject to discipline code of school

21. Strategies to Consider… No Moral Authority Off-Campus If Staff is the Target Investigate Possible On Campus Get to the Bottom Document, Document, Document!!! No Excessive Discipline Not Just Discipline

22. What’s Missing?: Let’s Talk… Cell Usage – Vibrate or OFF? – No specifics for Personal Digital Devices in policy Harassment Definition – “Electronics” is not included as means of delivery – Only covers on campus or school sponsored events Guidelines for behavior – Classroom? “All of the time”; School sponsored; All of campus Policy on use of school Internet system – Is there a technology agreement? Policy on off campus behavior

23. Adults Need to Know: More of the language/technology Their responsibilities – Supervision – Liability – Advocacy That kids want to be a part of meaningful conversation and positive change. How to listen & not over react

24. Our kids need to know… With Freedom comes Responsibility Cyberbullying and any type of mistreatment are unacceptable. – CB, Sexting - Illegal How to recognize it, not participate and report it. How to reach out to others for help if needed. To take a stand against it.

25. Thank You! Lisa Bell, MA Executive Director Buddies Not Bullies 636.239.6787 lisabell1701@sbcglobal.net positiveproblemsolving@portalscorporation.org www.portalscorporation.org

26. References and Resources Margaret Ross, – Kamaron Institute Kimberly Mason, Ph.D.- – NCC Cleveland University Parry Aftab, Esq., – Wired Kids Anti-Bullying Network www.cafeaspira.com www.privacyrights.org KidsBeSafeOnline HRSA – SAMSHA 72 MO.L.Rev.125 – Missouri Law Review 2007 Office of Brian Nieves – Missouri House Research Dept. Nancy Willard, MS, JD 2007 www.csriu.org http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov http://www.fbi.gov/publications http://nces.ed.gov http://senate.mo.us www.webwisekids.org www.netsmartz.org www.ikeepsafe.org www.INOBTR.org www.icacmo.org www.cybertipline.com www.projectsafechildhood.gov www.getkidssafe.com