Handling Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying is repeated hostile behavior towards a targeted personin an online environment. It can occur through email, text messaging, chatrooms, social networks like Facebook, blogs, gaming systems, or discussion forums. Cyberbullying can result from jealousy, bigotry, vindictiveness, rivalry, anger, or purely out of a wish to dominate. However, when caught, these faceless offenders typically try to excuse their behavior as a “joke”. While the abusive actions may start out as a joke, they usually escalate in viciousness as the victim’s responses become more desperate (Wired Safety, 2013).

Cyberbullying includes flaming (making hostile comments), denigrating (starting malicious gossip), outing, posting a bashboard and eliciting hurtful comments, posting compromising photos or videos, impersonating, exclusion, trickery, organizing a texting attack where a group of people gang up on the victim, hurtful online polls (Who is the ugliest person in class/ in the office?), stalking, sending malicious code or viruses, and “griefing” (harassing a game player).

What is more alarming is that online harassment can cross over into the real world. For example, virtual stalking can turn into real stalking, or threats can turn into “happy slapping” (organizing a public beating of the victim and filming it) (Hout, 2013 and NY Criminal Justice Services, 2013).

Many victims become so traumatized by the public humiliation that they commit commit suicide, which has recently been dubbed “bullicide”. “We do know that those who experience cyber bullying are more likely to experience suicidal ideation, to attempt suicide” (Magid, 2011).

Although teens are the largest group who experience and participate in cyber bullying (42%), adults have also become victims or perpetrators. Some say this is due to its acceptance as entertainment value on TV programs. 22% of college students reportedly have been cyber-bullied and 15% said they suspected they were cyber bullied by professors. The Workplace Bullying Institute reported 60% of adult bullies to be females, but 80% of that was towards other women (Krick, H. 2013).

If you are a victim or the parent or friend of one, report the cyber abuse immediately. Studies have shown reporting has increased from 15% in 2005 to 30% in 2011 (Magid, 2011). It is the first step in tracking down and bringing cyber bullies to justice.

Here are helpful some resources to use and recommend:

1.Anti-Bullying Network (2012). Retrieved from http://www.antibullying.net/

2.Kids Against Bullying (2012). Retrieved from http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

3.Kids Health (2012) Report cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html

4.Cyber Safety (2013). Internet Health, Safety Resources and Teaching. Retrieved from http://www.cyber-safety.com


5.Make Use Of Five Websites to Stop Cyberbullying (2012). Retrieved from http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-parents-children-deal-bullying-cyberbullying

6.Netsmartz (2012). Retrieved from http://www.netsmartz.org/cyberbullying/

7. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (2013). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/missing/i_safety/cyberbullying.htm

8.Report Cyberbullying (2012). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov

9.Wired Safety Group (2013). Stop cyber bullying. Retrieved from http://stopcyberbullying.org/ and https://www.wiredsafety.org/subjects/cyberbullying

For online teachers, I would recommend the Anti-Bullying Network (See #1 for link). It includes cyberbullying resources for adults in school, in the workplace, for parents and teachers. It also has anti-bullying services that provide training, a free websites, publications and consultants.

For adult cyber-bully victims, I would recommend directly consulting your local Criminal Justice Services website, where you can make reports and get safety tips. (For the link to the New York State Division, see #7.) Also, to report cyberbullying, see link #8.)





References

Hout, A. (2013). The anonymous attacks of adult cyberbullying cross the line and enter the “real world”. Retrieved from http://www.overcomebullying.org/cyberbullying.html
and What type of bullying are you experiencing? Retrieved from http://www.overcomebullying.org/index.html

Krick, H. (2013). Adult bullying shames victims, hinder gender equality. Retrieved from http://thebluebanner.net/adult-bullying-shames-victims-hinders-gender-equality/

Magid, L. (2011, September 12). Interview with Justin Patchin of cyberbullying research center. Retrieved from http://www.safekids.com/2011/09/12/interview-with-justin-patchin-of-cyberbullying-research-center/

New York State Criminal Justice Service (2013). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/missing/i_safety/cyberbullying.htm

Wired Kids, Inc. (2012). Stop cyberbullying: Why do kids cyberbully each other? Retrieved from http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html
vic.gov.au/HTML/Transcripts/CyberBullying.htm