The Question-- • How can parents, educators, students intervene to stop

The Question-• How can parents,
educators, students
intervene to stop
cyber bullying?
What To Do?
• Save all evidence of
the cyberbullying.
• Save any email files,
instant messaging or
chat sessions, and
download and save
any blog or website
material.
• Try to identify the
bully.
– E-mail tracing
– Police
Response Options:
• Contact police if
severe.
• Contact another
responsible adult.
• Discuss bullying and
cyber bullying with
teens on a frequent
basis.
• Emphasize the
importance of
speaking out against
such behavior or
reporting it to an
adult.
Students Need To Know That Taking
No Stand Is Taking A Stand!
• If another
student is
involved, bring
evidence to the
school counselor
or the SAP
Professional.
• If another child is
the victim give a
copy of the
materials to the
victim’s parents.
• Listen to teenagers’
suggestions. They are
familiar with the teen
online world.
Warning Signs That A Child May
Be A Victim Of Cyberbullying
• Signs of emotional upset-depression, anger,
fear, especially if upset after using the
Internet or a cell phone.
• Avoidance of friends, school, or other
activities.
• Decline in grades or other performances..
• If you suspect cyberbullying, you may
want to conduct an investigation into
your child’s online presence.
• See isafe.org for how to know if your
child has a blog.
Techniques To Remove
Or Stop Speech
• Send one message stating clearly: “Do not
communicate with me again or I will contact
the appropriate authorities.”
• Contact the ISP, forward messages, and
request that account be terminated.
• If on a website, notify the site and request
removal (Xanga has guidelines under the FAQ
section.)
• If speech is coming through mobile phone,
trace number and contact phone company.
Prevent Your Child From
Becoming A Cyberbully
• Communicate expectations regarding using
the Internet, cell phone, etc.
• Communicate consequences such as loss of
Internet account or cell phone if such
behavior occurs.
• Contract that includes: Our family values.
Post by the computer and keep the computer
in a family room!!!!
• Teens can come up with their own language
and guidelines for sharing personal
information.
Use Filtering or Blocking Functions:
• Save copies of I.M.s.
• Change email address.
• Change phone number.
• Contact the parents of the student
perpetrator.
What Can Educators Do?
• Emphasize the importance of speaking
out against bullying in all its forms.
• Establish and anonymous reporting
box/system.
• Bullying prevention programs.
Educators Should Contact Law
Enforcement If Cyberbullying Involves …
• Death threats of threats or other
forms of violence to a person or
property
• Excessive intimidation or extortion
• Threats or intimidation that involve any
form of bias or discrimination based on
race, religion, gender, sexual orientation
• Any evidence of sexual exploiting
Accountability Circles
• In some situations where all parties are in agreement,
having the student perpetrator meet with the victim
and his/her parents can be helpful.
• Adult moderators facilitate the meeting.
• Opportunity to share remorse , reactions, and
understand the impact of the behavior.
• Goal is: Successful; resolution of the incident in the
form of a written agreement
Even it occurs off campus,
there is still support available
for victims.
The most important thing to do if you
are being bullied is to tell someone.
Bullies rely on the fact that you will
feel so upset, scared and vulnerable
that you won't tell anyone what's
happening to you. If you tell somebody,
then you no longer have to deal with
the problem - or the bad feelings that
being bullied creates - alone.
Just remember - if you're being bullied,
you shouldn't deal with it all by yourself
Key Sites
• www.isafe.org
• www.cyberbullying.org
• www.whois.net (Type what you want to
know … Where is the ? What is the?
Resources
• Bully OnLine
• Staying safe in cyberspace, a page from Bullying
Online at www.bullying.co.uk
• Cyberbullying - practical advice for parents and
schools
• Conflict in Cyberspace: how to resolve conflict online
by Kali Munro
• The Psychology of Cyberspace by John Suler
• http://www.haltabuse.org/
• http://www.wiredpatrol.org/
• Links to cyberbullying and Internet violence sites
• Links to stalking sites
• 26 August 2004: article in New York Times, Internet
Gives Teenage Bullies Weapons to Wound From Afar
Defining the Line Between
Teasing and Bullying
Read the following vignettes -determine if the situation is teasing,
bullying or if you are not certain. Using
a playground as the backdrop … imagine
being on a busy playground and how you
would respond to this situation. If you
came upon this situation in school, and
without any time to get background and
to ask questions, how would you
categorize this situation? As teasing,
bullying or not sure.
Scenario 1
Paul and Bobby are good friends and
spend a great deal of time together.
They are in the same 4th grade class.
When they are out on the playground,
some of the 5th graders joke with
Bobby -- because he wears a New
Orleans Saints baseball cap. As the
teacher you overhear the conversation.
Teasing or Bullying? Why? How did you
come to that conclusion?
Scenario 2
At first Bobby laughs it off but it continued
to the point that others in the class have
picked up on the name. So Bobby stopped
wearing the cap – but the name seems to have
stuck – they call him the “saint”. Paul told
Bobby that it is not such a bad thing to be
called. He should be pleased – the kids meant
no harm. Teasing or Bullying? Why? How did
you come to that conclusion?
Scenario 3
The 5th graders now call Bobby gay. At
gym class the kids leave Bobby for the
last when they are choosing teams – and
their gestures indicate they do not want
him to play on their team. One boy
slammed the ball at Bobby – to hurt him.
Bobby was hurt and in tears when the
teacher intervened. Teasing or Bullying?
Why? How did you come to that
conclusion?
Reflections
1. When was the line crossed?
2. How did you know?
3. What are some of the factors
that turn teasing into bullying?
4. When would adult intervention
have preempted this situation?
5. How can we teach children about
identifying when the line has been
crossed?