What you should know as parents by Charles McKinley Parents’ Technology Night, 2013, sponsored by your PTSO

 Any harassment that occurs via the internet, cell phones or other electronic devices.  When communication technology is used to intentionally harm others through hostile behavior including harassing or threatening text messages or through rude or hurtful internet postings.  The National Crime Prevention Council defines cyber-bullying as “the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.”

Prevention and Protection Some Useful Websites Tips for Parents If Bullying Occurs Your First Steps By Texting or Phone By Internet

 Internet Safety  NetSmartz  Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use  ConnectSafely.org  Facebook Family Safety Center  Family Online Safety Institute  GetGameSmart

TalkEducateAgreeMonitor Next: If Bullying Occurs

Communicate with your children Encourage them to be open about their friends and interactions with others Talk often about their web use and Internet habits So that they are ready and willing to talk if or when they experience something unpleasant or distressing online or by cell phone

Educate your children about appropriate online behaviors Teach and reinforce positive morals and values about how others should be treated with respect and dignity, in both personal interactions and in electronic interactions

Set-up an agreement with your child, and build a crystal-clear understanding about what is appropriate with a Contract Internet Use Contract Cell Phone Use Contract (from the Cyber Bullying Research Center)

Monitor your child’s activities while online – especially early in his or her exploration of cyberspace This is best done informally through active participation in your child’s Internet experience You can also formally monitor or define Internet usage through software

Texting or Phone Internet First Steps

Tell your child not to respond to rude e- mails, messages, and comments Save the evidence, such as and text messages Take screenshots of comments and images Note the date and time of the harassment Make a report to Inform law enforcement of any threats or if something illegal has occurred Contact us here at school

Contact your cell phone provider Check out phone features that may allow the number to be blocked Change the phone number, if necessary Instruct your child to share the new number only with trustworthy people

Social networking sites, IM, chat rooms, and Instruct your child to “block” bullies Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) Ask the website administrator or ISP to remove any Web page created to hurt your child Possibly delete your child’s current account and open a new one

 Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying  50% of young people have experienced some form of cyber bullying  10 to 20 % experience cyber bullying regularly  Mean, hurtful comments and spreading rumors are the most common type of cyber bullying  Girls are at least as likely as boys to be cyber bullies or their victims  Boys are more likely to be threatened by cyber bullies than girls  Cyber bullying affects all races  Cyber bullying victims are more likely to have low self esteem and to consider suicide org

 Stop Bullying Now, copyright 2009, retrieved June 2, 2013 at bullying-statistics.htmlhttp:// bullying-statistics.html  Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Cell phone use contract. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from ntract.pdf ntract.pdf  Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Identification Prevention Response Fact Sheet. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf  Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Family Internet use contract. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from ontract.pdf ontract.pdf continued

 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Copyright retrieved June 2, 2013 at  Steinberg, S., Internet Safety for Kids: Best Websites and Services, posted July 30, 2012, retrieved June 2, 2013 at steinberg/internet-safety_b_ html steinberg/internet-safety_b_ html  TechOnTheNet, Copyright , retrieved June 2, 2013 at  U.S. Legal Inc., Copyright , retrieved June 2, 2013 at bullying/ bullying/