As reporting for Fox News Channel this weekend, as many as 30% of teens say they've been victims of a growing trend -- "cyber-bullying." It can be vicious & there's no respite over the summer/when school is out. Online anonymity often means cyber-attacks (everything from forwarding private email with personal data to spreading rumors via instant messages) are even more aggressive than face-to-face confrontations.
You may be surprised to learn who's doing this. Often it's "good" kids who have found an alluring anonymous outlet. These modern-day bullies may be the kid you least expect ... maybe even your own.
Kids -- even good kids -- sometimes say and do things online they would never have the "guts" to do in person. Plus, they don't witness the immediate consequences of hurting someone's feelings, so their already under-developed sense of empathy (a function of their age) isn't challenged & they don't self-correct.
Older girls ages 15-17 are most at risk, but the phenomenon can strike as early as age 9 and plays out differently with boys & girls.
Boy cyberbullies: For boys it tends to be more physical. "If you drop one more pass and we lose the game, I don't think you're gonna want to come back to the locker room."
Girl cyberbullies: Catty becomes cattier and it doesn't take much ... "Why do you wear the same pair of jeans everyday?" Or a comment like "Her hair looks weird" which gets forwarded, sometimes inadvertently.
It's not always easy to track down the e-thug. Often they pose as someone else which can double the damage. One person is framed as the bully & someone else gets bullied. This is -- yet another -- reason not to give out your account password, so no one can log on & send/post messages as you. The proliferation of social networking sites & increasing use of multiple email and IM addresses, gives cyber-imposter's more moves to make.
According to the Pew Internet Study, here's the most common forms of cyberbullying:
Making Private Information Public Is the Most Common Form of Cyberbullying Have you, personally, ever experienced any of the following things online? Yes No Someone taking a private email, IM, or text message you sent them and forwarding it to someone else or posting it where others could see it 15% 85% Someone spreading a rumor about you online 13% 87% Someone sending you a threatening or aggressive email, IM, or text message 13% 87% Someone posting an embarrassing picture of you online without your permission 6% 94% Answered "yes" to any of the four previous questions 32% 68% Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Parents and Teens Survey, Oct- Nov. 2006. Based on online teens [n=886]. Margin of error for the overall sample is ±4%.
IF YOUR CHILD IS THE VICTIM OF CYBERBULLYING ... WHAT ACTION SHOULD THEY TAKE?
Stop, block and tell. If you are being harassed online, walk away from the computer, block the sender and tell a responsible adult. The last thing they should do is reply ... things can quickly escalate online.
School tip lines. Some schools are starting to establish anonymous tip phone lines for those who witness or are victims of cyber-bullying.
Remember you can get caught: This seems to be one of the single biggest deterrents. Cyber-rumors, etc. are traceable if someone decides to aggressively chase them down & there can be consequences. Make sure your school has a formal policy & watch for existing laws against bullying to be expanded to include virtual incidents.
More help for parents and kids online. www.StopCyberBullying.org
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