BULLYING and

Bullying behaviour is no longer restricted to the school yard. It is often by phone or online and out of sight and earshot of both teachers and parents,

Your home should be a safe place where you can be away from bullying and harassment but Cyber Bullying by phone and online can affect you even when you are at home...

Being cruel, repeatedly circulating hurtful material to others or about others using technological means Cyber Bullying is repeatedly using computers, mobile phones, smart phones or any other technology to cause hurt or embarrassment to another person

Cyber Bullies may: Spread lies about pupils Spread rumours about pupils Circulate pictures without consent Circulate altered pictures without consent Trick people into revealing personal information Circulate personal information about someone without consent

  Mobile/smart phones  Text messages  Instant messaging / MSN  Social networking sites  Chat rooms  These can be like well-designed playgrounds... at night... with no adults... and with a few troublemakers hanging around ASK.fm Anti-Bullying Campaign

People who Cyber Bully: Think it’s “funny” Don’t think it’s a big deal Are encouraged by friends Don’t think about consequences Think everybody Cyber Bullies others Think they won’t or can’t get caught

But we were just slagging! We didn't mean it! (Cyber)-Bullying is … Unwanted Repeated over time A power imbalance Victim feels socially excluded A threat Deliberate Used to upset people Slagging is … When the pupil targeted is in on the joke When pupil targeted also laughs When it ends quickly When all are on the same level When there is no discrimination When there is no fear or threat Any hurt or upset is accidental

One of the most threatening aspects of being the target of Cyber Bullying is that You can’t see who is doing it so you think you don’t know who it is.

But research shows that those who Cyber Bully are usually the same people who bully people directly... so you may know who they are... But to prove it you will need evidence... and cyber-bullies leave lots of electronic “fingerprints.” To outsmart them, don’t be angry... be clever!

A victim of Cyber Bullying by phone should: Never reply to bullying or harassment by phone Put yourself in control - store the messages as evidence Block the sender - phone networks allow you to do this Tell someone you trust that the bullying is going on If Cyber Bullying continues, report the problem to parents/teachers and depending on severity, the Gardaí. Even if the sender’s number is hidden the exact time and date are attached to messages and enable the Gardaí to check with the service provider and trace the sender of the message

A victim of Cyber Bullying online should: Never reply to online bullying or harassment Put yourself in control - store and print out messages and keep them as evidence, noting exact time and date if possible Block communication with the Cyber Bullying person: (a) by , by adding her/him to your “blocked list” and (b) on social networking sites (e.g. Facebook) by (i) reporting the bullying to the site administrators and (ii) changing your privacy settings to exclude her/him If Cyber Bullying continues, report the problem to parents/teachers and depending on severity, the Gardaí.

Useful rules to live by: If you wouldn’t say it in person... don’t say it in a message Before you send a message remember... everything that is sent is traceable - even if you send it anonymously If it is nasty, if it is mean... don’t send it, don’t forward it, don’t let it be seen Talk to your friends about cyber-bullying and if any of you are targeted then take action Ask your friends to Help Stop Cyber Bullying