Cyber bullying Lara Climer and Michele Fesenbek

Interesting Tidbits  Over 87% of teens age use the internet  95% of parents do not understand internet lingo used by the children  Over ½ of adolescents and teenagers have been bullied on-line. About that many have engaged in the act.  1 in 3 have experienced some type of cyber bullying.  The most common device used for cyber bullying is the cell phone (80%)  25% have been repeatedly harassed by cell phone  1 in every 10 adolescents or teenagers tell their parents  Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.

Interesting Tidbits Continued  About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once.  About 75% have visited a website bashing another student.  Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.  20% of children ages have received unwanted sexual solicitations on-line, that’s 1 in every 5 kids.  4,000,000 children are posting content on the Web daily.  Sources: Stop Cyber Bullying, Internet Safety 101, Stomp Out Bullying, End Cyber BullyingStop Cyber BullyingInternet Safety 101Stomp Out BullyingEnd Cyber Bullying

What is Cyber bullying  It is using technology (cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices) to harass or intimate someone Examples: * posting embarrassing photos on- line, through or by cell phone * posting negative comments or spreading rumors about someone on- line * sending threatening or abusive messages

Cyber bullying vs. Bullying  Bullying usually occurs at school, whereas cyber bullying usually takes place in a person’s home  Effects of cyber bullying typically is carried over into the school setting  Victims don’t feel that they can be safe anywhere from the harassment

Signs of Cyber bullying: Victim or Bully  Quickly switches screens or closes programs when you walk by  Doesn’t want to discuss what they are doing on the computer  Gets unusually upset if they can’t use the computer or other electronic device  Is moody or irritable after receiving a text or or being on-line  May experience a drop in grades  Loses interest in social activities

Signs of Cyber bullying: Victim or Bully Continued  Uses the phone or computer until all hours of the night  Becomes anxious or nervous when receiving an IM message  Becomes within drawn from friends and family

What Can WE do?  Be involved!  Place computers in high traffic areas of your home  Set up and other technological accounts with your children; know their screen names and passwords  Don’t allow children to include any personal information when registering for accounts  Be familiar with the lingo used for texting and other on line conversations

What Can WE do?  Discuss what cyber bullying is with your children  Let your children know that you won’t blame them if they are being cyber bullied and that you won’t take their technology away…this is the main reason children don’t tell parents  Make expectations clear about using technology

Know Your Technology  Be familiar with technology available to your children  Facebook  Snap Chat  YouTube  Twitter  Flickr  Instagram

What Parents Should Share with their kids…  NEVER give out your personal information  Don’t share passwords with ANYONE excepts for parents  If you received threatening messages, don’t respond. Save it or print it out to show to an adult.  Tell children to never open anything from people you do not know or you know is a bully  *Deactivate GPS tracker on apps  Don’t send messages when you are angry

What Parents Should Share with their kids…  Don’t join in with others who are cyber bullying someone  Always be polite  Remind them they leave a cyber footprint

Parent Resources:  Stop Cyber Bullying Stop Cyber Bullying  Internet Safety 101 Internet Safety 101  End Cyber Bullying End Cyber Bullying  Cybersafetyconsulting Cybersafetyconsulting