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CYBERBULLYING

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Cyberbullying What is Cyberbullying?

Recent Cases

Cyberbullying is bullying that uses electronic technology: phones, computers and tablets. It often takes place through social media sites but also through text messages, chat and websites.

In July 2013, 17-year-old Daniel Perry took his own life – he had befriended someone he thought was a girl of his own age online and had made explicit webcam recordings. In reality, he was “talking” to blackmailers.

It includes hurtful or threatening text messages or emails, making fake profiles, circulating rumours by email or posting on social networking sites, or showing embarrassing pictures and videos. Like all bullying it is meant to make another person feel hurt, threatened, frightened and miserable. It is different from other forms of bullying because: • It can follow the victim around – even home isn’t safe from bullies using technology. • It can happen at any time - all the time. • The bullies can easily hide their identities. • It can reach a wide audience. • It is hard to remove harassing messages and images.

They told him to deposit thousands of pounds into an account or the images would be shared with his family and friends or the public. The message also said he would be better off dead if he didn’t deposit the cash Hours later, he committed suicide. On August 2nd, 14 year old Hannah Smith took her own life after months of cyberbullying on the Ask.fm site. Her sister, Joanne, who found Hannah’s body, explained that the site had become addictive for Hannah, who used it in secret even after she was told not to. But Ask.fm isn’t the only, or even the biggest, forum for cyberbullying. Whenever a site becomes popular the bullies or trolls will move in. So although making the site owners more responsible is obviously important, it may not be enough to prevent further tragedies.

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How the internet has turned old-school bullying into a virtual hell Teenage bullying is at an all-time high. Much of it, though, is not the sly pinches and whispers that were so common in my teens, the cold giggles or occasional screamy slaps; much of today’s is done online. In this week’s survey of American teenage boys, one in 20 admits to uploading a “humiliating” photo of their ex-girlfriend, and 10% of boys and girls have received threatening mobile messages from a romantic partner. In the UK, the Sun reports that cyberbullying is responsible for a 50% rise in teenagers selfharming. The problem has become so rife, so huge, blanketing schools like the smoke from a factory fire, that in the US they’ve just coined a new phrase for it: “electronic dating violence”. Whereas bullied teens could once find refuge at home from tormenting classmates, mobile phones mean that today they’re never quite alone. Instead of scrawling someone’s sexual history on a bathroom wall, today fake Facebook accounts

lure broadcastable confessions. Girls’ webcam stripteases are uploaded to YouTube, their intimate camera phone shots emailed from school to school, engraving themselves on the internet like initials in a tree trunk, fading but never quite disappearing, lingering, herpes-like, long after the relationships that spawned them have ended in tears and scratches. The thought of all those private pictures hovering bruisily above their original owners, just out of reach (I always think of the internet as existing a metre over our heads, like a pixellated limbo), is depressing enough – these girls’ small reservoirs of trust emptying in seconds – but this week’s study also suggests that electronic violence and “traditional” offline dating violence are often related. Is it wrong to be nostalgic for the bullying of the 90s, when things were bloodier but less virtual? When bullying faded in time, rather than remaining online forever, lingering on Google like a taste, colouring a girl’s life like an unbleachable stain?

Whereas bullied teens could once find refuge at home from tormenting classmates, mobile phones mean that today they’re never quite alone.

Eva Wiseman, The Observer, 7 November 2010 © Guardian News & Media Ltd 2010

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How much cyberbullying goes on? An online survey of 2,001 people aged 13 to 19 by Knowthenet showed that teens are suffering online abuse in silence as most are not reporting it.

have experienced or know someone who has been affected by online bullying or trolling

The most popular sites and services for online trolling or bullying

For more articles, statistics and contacts www.completeissues.co.uk, search Cyberbullying

Is it the biggest online problem? The EU Kids Online Survey asked 25,000 young people aged 9-16 about their experience online. Cyberbullying was not the risk that young people encountered most often, but it was the most upsetting

What risks? 40% of the children surveyed encountered

met face-to-face; 6% had been sent a nasty or hurtful message/been bullied online.

one or more forms of online risk in the past year.

15% have seen or received sexual messages online.

14% had seen sexual images; 30% had contact online with someone they had not

How upset the young person felt after encountering the risk online

Very

Fairly 31%

A bit

Not at all

24%

30%

15%

Bullying 5%

9%

14%

72%

Sexual images 4%

12%

8%

76%

Sexual messages 93%

3% 2%2% Meeting new people

“

...the digital world brings both risks and opportunities for young people... risk isn’t automatically a bad thing as it may give children a chance to learn how to cope Professor Sonia Livingstone

”

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Some myths about ‘Digital natives’ Young people are often regarded as ‘digital natives’. This means that since they grew up with digital technology it all seems to come naturally to them. But, according to the EU Kids Online Survey of 25,000 young people aged 9-16, young people aren’t all masters of the internet.

Myth: Digital natives know it all Only 36% of 9-16 year-olds say it is very true that they know more about the internet than their parents. BUT the Knowthenet survey found that 80% of teenagers use the latest internet slang but only 30% of parents know the correct meaning of terms like YOLO

Myth: Under 13s can’t use social networking sites Although many sites eg Facebook, say that users must be aged at least 13, the survey shows that age limits don’t work – 38% of 9-12 year-olds have a social networking profile.

Myth: Teaching digital skills reduces online risk The more digital skills a child has, the more risks they are likely to encounter as they broaden their online experience. Some skills could reduce the harm that children are exposed to.

Myth: Putting the PC in the living room will help Children find it so easy to go online at a friend’s house or on a smartphone that this advice is out of date. Parents should talk to their children about their internet habits or join them in some online activity.

Myth: Children can get around safety software Fewer than one in three 11-16 year-olds say they can change filter preferences. And most say their parents’ action to limit their internet use is helpful.

Myth: People you meet on the internet are strangers 87% of online contacts are people children know face-to-face. 9% met offline people they’d first contacted online – most didn’t go alone and only 1% had a bad experience.

Myth: Bullies are baddies The study shows that 60% who bully (online or offline) have themselves been bullied. Bullies and victims are often the same people. When Knowthenet surveyed 10-18 year olds 30% had posted on their friends’ profiles without permission and 20% said they had been mean to others online. For more articles, statistics and contacts www.completeissues.co.uk, search Cyberbullying

Read more opinions – go to the Complete Issues website www.completeissues.co.uk There is nothing petty about abuse and threats This writer looks at the issue of online bullying, starting with a Muslim girl in a beauty contest who received internet abuse from all sides. Essential Articles 14 page 125

The faceless virtual mob spreading spite online Protected by anonymity, internet users are becoming ever more vicious. Essential Articles 13 page 124

A woman’s opinion is the mini skirt of the internet Like many women writers, Laurie Penny has received insults and death threats because she dared to express an opinion. Essential Articles 15 page 102

Internet trolls Freedom of the internet is a wonderful thing, even if it encourages trolls. Right? Essential Articles 15 page 133

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Staying safe DON’T FEED THE TROLLS Trolls feed off your response so whatever you do, never reply

TELL SOMEONE YOU TRUST Tell a mate, a teacher, a parent, or someone you can trust about it as soon as possible

COLLECT EVIDENCE Collect evidence of email or message trails in case it gets more serious. For a check list of what to save visit www.knowthenet.org.uk/trolling This site gives good advice - including how to catch a troll.

Useful websites www.cybersmile.org Charity committed to tackling cyberbullying and online hate campaigns. www.getsafeonline.org Practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobile devices and your business against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online. www.knowthenet.org.uk Advice on using the net effectively and safely. www.kidscape.org.uk The first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse. www.childline.org.uk ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people. Call free on 0800 1111. http://ceop.police.uk The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. Also runs www.thinkuknow.co.uk www.wiredsafety.org American site. Lots of information and advice. www.stopbullying.gov American website directed at parents There are organisations like regainyourname.com who will provide resources to help but charge for their services.

For more articles, statistics and contacts www.completeissues.co.uk, search Cyberbullying