Web Bullies Loom As Growing Threat To Kids, Teens Online
Bullying Has Taken On A New Life On The Internet
By Ashley Wilson — March 31, 2008 — What used to take place on the walls of the girls bathroom and on neighborhood playgrounds is now happening via social networking sites, instant messages, chat rooms, blogs and text messages.
While the dynamic between children is much the same, the methods are far different from what many adults experienced growing up. And when it happens over the World Wide Web, the impact on children may be even more severe — in rare cases, to the point of suicide.
Like face-to-face intimidation, cyberbullying involves “mean, negative actions that are usually repeated and often involves a power imbalance,” said Patti Agatston, one of the authors of “Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age.” “What is unique about cyberbullying is, what gives you the power is the actual technology.”
Bullying Methods
Whether through instant messages, text messaging, chat rooms, social networking sites or e-mail, the tactics of the cyberbully are familiar variations on timeless tactics of humiliation.
IM’ing, one of the most common means of bullying, allows children to send degrading comments that their targets receive instantly when they’re online. In more elaborate schemes, students befriend their victims for minutes, weeks or months, getting them to share secrets, say personal things or send photographs that the bully can then distribute to classmates as a way to embarrass the target.
The more hurtful bullying often happens on social networking sites.
At least two children have apparently taken their lives after being cyberbullied, cases that briefly brought the problem to light in the media. One was 13-year-old Ryan Halligan, of Vermont, who killed himself in 2003.
“It never crossed my mind,” said John Halligan, Ryan’s father, who has set up an educational and memorial Web site for his son,
www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org. “I know kids are mean to each other in this age group. To me, I always thought he was just interacting with friends. Why would he be interacting with anyone else? I felt foolish.”
While traditional bullying seems to peak in the fourth and fifth grades, cyberbullying happens more frequently during the middle school and early high school years, when kids are getting more freedom and access to the Internet.
It is also happening more often among girls than does traditional schoolyard bullying. Twenty-five percent of cyberbully victims are girls, according to a survey taken by Robin Kowalski, another author of “Cyber Bullying” and a professor of psychology at Clemson University.
Bullying 24/7
The fact that you don’t have to face your opponent may lead many young people who would not otherwise become bullies to target other children. When they believe their actions are anonymous and don’t have to see directly how their actions are hurting the victim, it makes the activity seem less serious, experts said.
But the effects are the same. Both students who are bullied and those who act as the bullies have higher rates of depression and anxiety. The students are more likely to carry a weapon to school, as well, Agatston said.
The Internet’s distant and continuous reach can actually give cyberbullying a greater impact on children than traditional bullying.
Warning Signs
• Child is upset after being on computer.
• The computer quickly goes black when you walk by.
• Child spends excessive amounts of time on the computer or telephone.
• Child does not want to go to school or hang out with friends.
What To Do
If parents discover a child is being cyberbullied, they should:
• Use computer and online tools to try to block the bully on e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging.
• Instruct the child not to open any messages known to be from a bully.
• Try contacting the other child’s parent.
• Report the bullying to that child’s Internet service provider or to the Web site administrator, if it involves specific chat rooms or Web sites.
• If the content is threatening, report the incident to local law enforcement.
• Save the evidence.
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Below is a sample messages sent by a student using AnComm’s ‘Talk About It’ anonymous online reporting service:
Anonymous: HEY I DON''T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ME BUT I WOULD BE ON THE COPUTER AND THIS GIRL POPS UP A MESSAGE SAYING SHE WILL COME TO MY HOUSEAND SLIT MY THROAT WHAT SHOULD I DO I AM REALLY SCARED
Assistant Principal: if this message is being sent to you at your house using some type of internet service.. 1 contact your service provider to have the sender identified.. 2 let your parents look at the message and i suggest they contact local police authorities.. internet harrassment is punishable by law.. you may want to stop by Officer ______'s office, if you need to, come to my office tomorrow and we will talk to him....if you know who the other person is and your parents can contact her parents as well....have you saved the messages from that person for future reference? if i need to get you some more advice let me know
About AnComm's 'Talk About It™'
Developed by AnComm, 'Talk About It' is the nation's first and only anonymous online messaging and emergency notification service for schools. Easy-to-use and implement, 'Talk About It' is a preventative solution focused on bridging the communication gap between students and faculty to foster a safer, more comfortable learning environment. To learn how your educational institution can benefit from AnComm's 'Talk About It' anonymous online messaging service, call 1 (866) 926-2666 or visit their web site at
http://www.ancomm.com.
Or maybe we need internet licenses before you surf. 