Definition
Cyber bullying is defined as the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else.
(Dept Children Schools and Families)
The following is a guide to the main characteristics of cyber bullying and advice to young people, parents and schools about what to do about it
Dangers of cyber bullying for young people
No escape
The internet is now available almost every where and this means that a victim of cyber bullying can receive messages at any time in school, out of school and even in their own bedroom. It is very hard for the victim to escape.
Messages and pictures can go to a very wide audience and be very hard to control.
The use of ICT makes it possible for messages such as texts, emails and even pictures to be sent to a number of people at the same, if they are then forwarded on the victim can be left feeling that everyone is involved in what is happening to them.
The bully can be anonymous
The victim may never see the person who is sending the messages in the first place .This anonymity also can protect and encourage the bully to behave in way that they would not do face to face
Bystanders can be part of the bullying
Messages can be passed on from many different devices by a number of different young people. They may not have started the messages and may not even know the victim but they contribute to the bullying by sending on what is said .In this respect they are as responsible for the distress of the victim as the bully who starts the process .
Can be unintentional
Forwarding on unpleasant remarks can be distressing for the person who is the subject. This is another instance of the bystander playing a part in the distress of the victim
Can be by children and adults.
There are increasing incidents of adults becoming involved in cyber bullying particularly on social networking sites. It is also the case that some adults such as teachers have become the target of cyber bullies.
Advice for young people –
• Always respect others
• Think before you send
• Treat your password like your toothbrush
• Block the Bully
• Don't retaliate or reply
• Save the evidence
• Make sure you tell
(Anti Bullying Alliance)
Always respect others
The best approach to overcoming bullying is relate to everyone ,children young people and adults with courtesy and respect .The behaviour that you follow when on line should be no different to the way that you behave towards people face to face.
Think before you send
Always think about the effect on the other person of any messages that you send and make sure that it is not likely to be upsetting. Also do not send on messages which are likely to upsetting to anyone else , remember that you do not want to become a bully .
Treat your password like your toothbrush
Your password is your way of keeping your information private and the best way of making sure that it stays that way is never to share your password. This includes your best friends as they may not keep it as secure as you will.
Block the Bully
If you find that you are getting messages from a bully, use the settings on your phone on your or computer so that you do not receive them.
Don't retaliate or reply
The bully wants to upset you and to see how you react. The best thing to do is not to reply so that they are denied the satisfaction of seeing that you are upset.
Save the evidence
If you save the evidence on your phone or computer may be possible to detect where it has come from .If the bully can be detected they will be less likely to carry on .It also helps other people to see what you are putting up with
Make sure you tell
Tell an adult that you trust such as your parents or carers or your teachers . They will support and help you to deal with this problem and can make sure that it will stop
For parents and carers
Take an interest in the internet and share with young people the things that they enjoy. This will help you to talk with your children and understand
the ways in which they are using the internet and their mobile phone.
Be aware, your child may as likely cyber bully as be a target of cyber bullying.
Be alert to your child seeming upset after using the internet or their mobile phone. This might involve subtle comments or changes in relationships with friends. They might be unwilling to talk or be secretive about their online activities and mobile phone use.
Use the tools on the service and turn on in-built internet safety features.
Remind your child not to retaliate.
Keep the evidence of offending emails, text messages or online conversations.
Report cyber bullying:
Contact your child’s school if it involves another pupil, so that they can take appropriate action.
Contact the service provider.
If the cyber bullying is serious and a potential criminal offence has been committed, you should consider contacting the police.
• Promoting the positive use of technology- big thing in young people lives
• Regular reviews are vital to make sure that anti bullying policies are working and are up-to-date.
Advice for Parents /carers and schools
Understanding and talking about cyber bullying - Show learners that the adults in the school understand the technologies they use – or get the students to teach them!
Promote and discuss ‘netiquette’, e-safety and digital literacy
Whole school policies which are known and accepted by everyone, promote them throughout the school and especially with parents. Keep policies under review and update them when necessary. Updating existing policies and practices- keep policies under review
Making reporting cyber bullying easier - enable different methods of reporting such as peer reporting, school council, anonymous reporting
Resources
The following are links to useful websites which can provide advice and material about how to tackle cyber bullying
This is a lesson plan and supporting material which has been developed by SWGFL, it is focussed on the issue of 'Sexting' but has covers many of the issues of cyber bullying
This is a link to the comprehensive advice and resources about combating cyber bullying which is provided by the Anti Bullying Alliance
This is a guide to cyber bullying and the advice to young people about the way that they need to keep themselves
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