Cyberbullying

{Computer Maintenance
Think About It
One day you like someone. The next day you don’t. Angry, you
say something or post something online. It gets passed around
quickly and easily. So now, everybody knows about it and
everybody talks about it in school. While maybe you are mean
only once, when you do it online your posting or message is
repeated again and again as it gets passed around. Meanness
multiplies.

When kids are intentionally and repeatedly mean to one

another using cell phones or the Internet, it’s called
cyberbullying. Sometimes kids can handle cyberbullying and
not get too upset. Other times, it can make kids feel angry,
frustrated, sad, or afraid.
Contents
 Definition
 Cyberbullying
mediums
 Effects of
cyberbullying
 Facts/Statistics
 Prevention/Tips
 Laws
 Definition
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place
using electronic technology.

Two types:
Directly – Sent to teen/kid
directly Proxy – Using others to
help bully
 Cyberbullying Mediums

 Cell phones
 IMing
 Posting on
websites
 Posting on social
networking
sites
 Email
Types of Cyberbullies
 Type 1: “The Vengeful Angel”
 Type 2: “The Power Hungry”
 Type 3: “Mean Girls”
 Type 4: “The Inadvertent Cyberbully”
 Effects of Cyberbullied
Victims
 Use alcohol and drugs
 Skip school
 Experience in-person
bullying
 Receive poor grades
 Have lower self-esteem
 Suicidal thoughts
Cyberbullying Can Lead to Depression,
Suicide
 Note: suicide is a complex issue, rarely is cyberbullying the
cause only Ryan Halligan – 2003. Was tormented for being “gay”
despite only being 13 years old.

Megan Meier – 2006. A neighbor (adult) created a fake profile of a

cute boy to start an online friendship.

Tyler Clementi – 2010. His college roommate set up a spy

cam to record his date with a man.

Amanda Todd – 2012. Someone tried to blackmail her

with a partially nude photo she sent. Then the
images went viral.
Facts/Statistics
 Text bullying has become more
common than traditional bullying.
 Many teens today, especially girls,
use technology to bully people.
In fact a study shows that twice
as many girls as boy has bullied
someone online.
 Cyberbullying can happen day
or night.
 Facts/Statistics
 Over half of adolescents and
teens have been bullied
online, and about the same
number have engaged in
cyber bullying.
 More than 1 in 3 young people
have experienced
cyberthreats online.
 Over 25 percent of adolescents
and teens have been bullied
repeatedly through their cell
phones or the Internet.
 Well over half of young people
do not tell their parents when
cyber bullying occurs.
 Prevention/Tips
 Tell an adult you trust about what’s going on.
 Don’t delete any of the emails, texts, or messages.
They
can serve as evidence.
 Keep a record of incidents.
 Don’t forward any mean messages that spread rumors
about you or someone else.
 Don’t cyberbully back. Revenge is never the best
answer.
Prevention/Tips

 If possible, report the incident to

the administrator of the website.
Many websites including
Facebook and YouTube have
safety centers to report
cyberbullying.
 Refuse to participate in
cyberbullying!
 Start an anti-bullying program
ni your school to educate your
peers that cyberbullying is
hurtful and wrong.
Laws
 In its last legislative session, Texas passed House Bill 1942 and
its
sister legislation Senate Bill 471.
 In Texas, like in other states, “bullying” means engaging
ni written or verbal expression or physical conduct that
will physically harm another student or student’s property,
or is persistent enough to create an intimidating or
threatening educational environment for a student.
 It requires training for school district staff and allows for the
transfer of students involved with bullying, a tactic that has
never been allowed by law.
 Crimes including intimidation, threatening, harassment,
stalking or impersonation may be filed against the bully in
juvenile or adult court. Penalties for conviction include
probation, community service, counseling, jail or prison.