1. ONLINE

Bullying behaviour is no longer restricted to the

school yard.

It is often online, out of sight and earshot of teachers and parents.

. . . ONLINE

Your home should be a safe place where you can be away from bullying and harassment . . .

. . . but Cyber Bullying can affect you even in your own home

. . . ONLINE

Being cruel . . . . by sending or posting harmful material

to others using the Internet

Cyber Bullying online uses computers, laptops, smart phones and the Internet to cause hurt or embarrassment to another person

. . . ONLINE

More than 10% of pupils state that someone has made mean or hurtful comments about them online . . .

. . . ONLINE

People who Cyber Bully: Pretend they are other

people online to trick people Spread lies and rumors about people Post pictures of victims without their consent Trick people into revealing personal

information

. . . ONLINE

E-mail Mobile/smart phones Text messages Instant messaging / MSN Social networking sites Chat rooms

. . . ONLINE

“Flaming”: Online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language

“Harassment”: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages

“Cyber Stalking”: Repeatedly sending messages or using other online activities that include threats of harm or that make people afraid for their own safety

“Denigration”: ‘Dissing’ someone online. Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships

. . . ONLINE

“Impersonation”: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes someone look bad, gets her/him in trouble or danger, or damages her/his reputation or friendships

“Outing and Trickery”: Tricking someone into revealing secret or embarrassing information which is then shared online

“Exclusion”: Intentionally excluding someone from an on-line group, like a ‘buddy list’

. . . ONLINE

TRADITIONAL BULLYING IS FACE TO FACE Occurs on

school property Teachers may become

involved Identity of bullying

pupil is obvious Rumours spread more

slowly and not as far Statements/Pictures

can be withdrawn, limiting the hurt

CYBER BULLYING IS ANONYMOUS Can occur off school

property Teachers may not

become involved Identity of bullying

pupil concealed Rumours spread

wider faster Messages/Pictures

cannot be withdrawn so the hurt continues

. . . ONLINE

Slagging is …When the pupil targeted is in on the jokeWhen pupil targeted also laughsWhen it ends quicklyWhen all are on the same levelWhen no one is picked on because they are differentWhen there is no fear or threatAny pain or hurt is an accident

Cyber Bullying is …Unwanted

Persistent

Often a power imbalance like two against one

Where the victim is made feel left out

Involves a threat

Deliberate

Used to upset people

But we were just slagging! We didn't mean it!

. . . ONLINE

People who Cyber Bully: Think it’s “funny” Don’t think it’s a big deal Are encouraged by friends Don’t think about consequences Wrongly think they won’t or can’t get

caught

. . . ONLINE

One of the most threatening aspects of being the target of Cyber Bullying is that . . .

. . . You can’t see the bullying

person and you often don’t even know who it is . . .

. . . but research shows it is nearly always someone who is bullying you in school already.

. . . ONLINE

Something everyone Something everyone who uses social media who uses social media

should know:should know:The Department of Education has decided:

“ . . . Placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or other public forum where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.”

This makes sense because every minute you choose to leave the message, image or statement in place is like repeating the original act again and again.

. . . ONLINE

A victim of Cyber Bullying should: Never reply to online bullying or harassment Put yourself in control - store and print out messages and

keep them as evidence, noting exact time and date if possible

Block communication with the Cyber Bullying person: (a) by email, by adding her/him to your“blocked list” and (b) on social networking sites (e.g. Facebook or Twitter) by (i) reporting the bullying to the site administrators

and (ii) changing your privacy settings to exclude her/him If Cyber Bullying continues, report the problem to

parents/teachers and depending on severity, the Gardaí.

. . . ONLINE

A victim of Cyber Bullying can also:

Talk to your friends about what is happening Refuse to pass along Cyber Bullying messages Ask your friends to help stop Cyber Bullying

. . . ONLINE

What type of people do you think use technology to bully others?

Why do you think they do this? What can be done to protect against Cyber Bullying? Discuss this with a partner then discuss as a class Have you heard or seen cases of Cyber Bullying? What should you do if you know of someone being Cyber Bullied

. . . ONLINE

Useful rules to live by: If you wouldn’t say it in person . . .

don’t say it online

Before you write it remember . . . everything that is written online is traceable - even if you delete it

If it is nasty, if it is mean . . . don’t write it, don’t forward it . . . don’t let it be seen

. . . ONLINE

Received from, and adapted with kind permission of Caroline O’Doherty, Loreto, Beaufort