Cyberbullying You and the Law.

What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is when someone bullies others over the internet or on a mobile phone by sending abusive s or texts directly or by posting nasty comments or humiliating images for others to see. Like any form of bullying, cyberbullying can be horrible for the people involved and hard for them to talk about.

How is cyberbullying different from other bullying? One of the biggest differences between cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying is that it can be hard to get away from. You could be bullied anywhere, anytime – even when you are at home. Cyberbullying can have a large audience too. Posts on social networks, s or group chats can be seen by lots of people very quickly.

Cyberbullies may seem to be able to remain anonymous, by using fake profiles on social networking sites or blocking their phone numbers. This can make it harder to identify the bullies, but texts and other messages can be saved as proof of the bullying. If the police are involved, the bullies find out that the police forensic computer analysts can trace them...

Statistics 56% of year-olds know someone who's been bullied online There was a sharp rise in incidents of cyberbullying between % of parents are worried that their child could become the victim of cyber bullies.

Who is involved? Young people who would never bully anyone face-to- face can get drawn into cyberbullying, sometimes without realising that is what they are doing. It is important to be aware that saying something online is just as unacceptable as saying something to someone’s face Taking part in a nasty conversation on a social network means you don’t see the impact of your words on the victim, as you would if it was face to face... Most young people who have directed a mean or cruel comment to someone online don't think about the consequence or even consider it cyberbullying.

The consequence of cyberbullying... The impact of cyberbullying can be terrible for the victim and their families In some instances it has proved fatal.

How are young people affected by Cyberbullying When young people are being cyber bullied, they can find it very difficult to talk about; Research suggests that many don’t tell their parents or teachers; If they can’t talk about it, it can become a major cause of stress; Some young people start avoiding school and socialising in general; As they become more depressed and frustrated, the bullying takes over their lives... They can begin to withdraw from friends and family members; They are now very vulnerable...

September 29 th 2012 Ciara Pugsley, 15 years old Ciara committed suicide in the woods near her home in Ireland in September 2013, after incessant bullying on her Ask.fm page. Users would call her things like “fat” and “ugly” in the months leading up to her taking her own life.

April 7, 2013 – Joshua Unsworth, 15 years old Joshua Unsworth’s body was discovered in the garden of his family’s farmhouse in the Lancashire. He was bullied for months leading up to his suicide, with anonymous posters mocking and harassing him on the internet.

July 15 th 2013, Daniel Perry, aged 17 Daniel was blackmailed on SKYPE. He jumped to his death from a local bridge.

Oct. 27th 2013 – Erin Gallagher, 13 years old Erin Gallagher, another Irish teenager, took her own life after being bullied on facebook. Erin warned the bullies on her page that she would take her own life, but the harassment about things like her weight and how she looked didn’t stop.

24 th October 2014 Hannah, 14, killed herself after being hounded on the Ask.fm website. Hannah’s sister Jo, aged 16, found Hannah’s body hanging in her bedroom.

This is Hannah’s dad David Smith with Hannah's sister Jo.

Unimaginable grief Parents Sisters Brothers Grandparents Aunties and Uncles Friends Teachers School Community

Clear consequences... Malicious Communications Act 2008 Any person who sends a letter or any type of electronic communication which conveys a message that is indecent, offensive or threatening and causes or is meant to cause anxiety or distress is guilty of an offence under this act.

Any type of electronic communication

A message that is indecent, offensive or threatening

Causes or is meant to cause anxiety or distress

Sentencing A person guilty of an offence under the Malicious Communications Act shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

The Malicious Communications Act Facebook Text messages Blackberry messenger Askfm Twitter Youtube Snapchat

Have you been the cyberbully? Its worth remembering that its only anonymous until the police forensic computer analysts get involved...

How could you live with yourself?

One of the founders of Ask.fm, Mark Terebin, posted a response to suicides due to ASK.FM Its not about the site, the problem is about education, about moral values... Try to make changes… start with yourself… be more polite, more kind, more tolerant of others… cultivate these values in schools...”

Do you need to make changes? Think before you type What sort of a person are you? Do you want to inflict pain and suffering? How do you want others to see you? Do you want to be seen, to be thought of, as a bully? As cruel, as spiteful, harsh, uncaring? Are these the qualities of a Joey? The Golden rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” St Luke’s Gospel

Do unto others Lord help me to listen to the words of Luke’s gospel Let me think about the things I post and the words I use to describe other people Let me focus on how I would feel if those words were posted about me Help me to remember that every day I am developing my character Let me become the person that you want me to be. Amen