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What's
New on the Internet? Cyberbullying.
Patti
Agatston, Ph.D.
Prevention/Intervention
Center
Young
people are at the forefront of changes in how we communicate based on today's
new technology. They are much
faster to adapt to the new technology than those of us with a few gray hairs.
Instant messages, blogging on the internet, and text messaging on cell
phones, are all ways that young people use to keep in touch.
While this new technology can be more efficient and more fun, it can also
lead to abuse without proper guidance and forethought.
As a parent, it is both a challenge and an important responsibility to
familiarize yourself with the ways that your child is communicating with others.
It is also critical to set clear guidelines for responsible use of this
technology.
Currently
the media has reported many stories of young people using the internet or other
mobile devices to bully or harass other students.
Cyberbullying is a term used to describe such behavior.
Here are some examples of cyberbullying:
-
sending threatening or harassing e-mails or instant messages
-
creating a website that belittles or ridicules another student
-
taking unflattering or inappropriate digital pictures of another student without their permission and sharing it with others or posting it on an internet site
-
stealing someone's password from their instant message or e-mail account and sending mean or humiliating messages to others
-
tricking someone into sharing sensitive personal information while instant messaging and then forwarding that information to others
The
feeling of anonymity that people feel while in cyberspace can contribute to
people sending messages that they would never say to someone in person. What many students (and many adults) do not understand,
however, is that they are never truly invisible when using the Internet.
We still leave "footprints' when we are in the online world, and
these can often be traced back to us. Parents
need to label such behaviors as inappropriate and bullying behaviors and be
clear that such behavior will lead to a loss of online privileges.
In some instances such behaviors could even lead to criminal or civil
prosecution.
The
internet offers tremendous opportunity for creating a better world, but with
such rapid advancements we must educate ourselves and empower our young people
with the values, tools, and skills to make cyberspace a safe and productive
place for all.
For
additional information check out these informative websites:
www.netsmartz.org
- fun and interactive lessons for children, teens, and parents
www.isafe.org
