Understanding and mitigating the
effects of online bullying on children
Rosalie O’Neale
Senior Advisor – Cybersmart
Australian Child Protection Forum
10-11 October 2013
About us
Cybersmart:
the national cybersafety and
cybersecurity education
program managed
by the Australian
Communications and Media
Authority (ACMA).
.
Our evidence base
• Evidence-based, targeted
program
• Like, post, Share: Young
Australians experience of
social media (August 2013)
• Discussions with students
through our Outreach program
• Other authoritative research
Countering perceptions
• The majority of children and young people have
not engaged in risky behaviours online
• For the majority of children and young people,
being online is ‘mostly or always good’
• Exposure to online risk does not always = harm
• Risky experiences can help develop coping
strategies, resilience
• Limiting experiences may increase vulnerability
Being online: both + and -
• Integral to identity
building, social
connections
• For the majority – a
positive experience
• Risks and challenges:
• Content
• Conduct
• Contact
What is cyberbullying?
The use of technology to bully a person or group.
Bullying is repeated behaviour by an individual or
group with the intent to harm another person or
group.
What does it include?
• Hurtful/abusive texts, emails, posts, images or
videos
• Imitating others online (impersonation, ridicule)
• Excluding others online
• Spreading nasty rumours and gossip
• Flaming, griefing, bash boards, happy slapping
‘Part and parcel’
• Cyberbullying perceived by children to be an inevitable
consequence of using social networks.
“It’s sort of part and parcel of it all. You use social networks
and you’re going to see cyberbullying.”
• Impact of online ‘distance”.
”I reckon some people get this extra confidence to be
someone different online. They’ll say all this stuff there is no
way they’d say to your face.”
Experienced cyberbullying
0
5
10
15
20
25
8 to 9 yearolds
10 to 11year olds
12 to 13year olds
14 to 15year olds
16 to 17year olds
1
10
16 18
19
4
10
17
21
16
2009
2012
Witnessing cyberbullying
• The majority of SNS
users reported
witnessing cyberbullying
at least sometimes.
• 5 to 12% say they have
witnessed it frequently.
• 14 to 15-year-olds were
the most likely to say
they’ve witnessed it
frequently.
By gender
In 2011, where primary or
secondary reason for contact
was related to cyberbullying:
Female 79%
Male 21%
Sexting
Sending provocative or sexual photos, messages or
videos, generally using a mobile phone. It can also
include posting this type of material online.
• Serious social and legal consequences for both
males and females.
• Short term embarassment/long term
reputational damage.
Experience of sexting
0
5
10
15
20
Total Males Females
13 12
14
18 19
18
Sent
Received
Have you or someone within your group of friends sent/received sexually
suggestive nude or nearly nude photos or videos to someone else?*
* Question asked of children 16-17, with parental consent
Recognising cyberbullying
• Changes in personality – becoming withdrawn,
anxious, sad or angry
• Becoming more lonely, distressed
• Unexpected changes in friendship groups
• Avoidance of school, clubs, friends
• Decline in school work
• Change in sleep patterns
• Decline in physical health
Legal framework
• No specific ‘cyberbullying’ laws in Australia
but other general criminal laws may apply:
• Stalking
• Defamation
• Assault
• Vilification
• Civil Action
Cyberbullying - how
aware are parents?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
8 to 9
Parents of 8-9
10 to 11
Parents of 10-11
4
4
10
6
96
93
89
90
3
4
1
1
Yes
No
Don't know
Prefer not to say
Cyberbullying - how aware
are parents?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
12 to 13
Parents of 12-13
14 to 15
Parents of 14-15
16 to 17
Parents of 16-17
17
16
21
17
16
9
80
77
77
71
81
75
3
6
2
12
2
16
1
1
1
1
1
Yes
No
Don't know
Prefer not to say
Sexting – how aware are
parents?
0
5
10
15
20
Parents Young people
3
13
8
18
Sent
Received
Sending/receiving sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude photos...
Dealing with cyberbullying
• Talk to someone you trust
• Don’t retaliate or respond
• Block the person, change
your settings
• Report to the service
• Keep the evidence...but
don’t keep revisiting it
Standing up and speaking
out - bystanders
• Bullying generally stops
very quickly with peer
intervention
• Students who are
defended recover better
• More likely to have
positive resolution if
peers intervene.
Don’t join in, forward or
share
Support and report in
whatever way you can.
This isn’t ‘dobbing’, it’s
about being a good
friend.
Don’t be part of the
bullying cycle.
Parents
• Open communication is
critical
• Know the strategies
and make a ‘just in
case’ plan
• Get professional
support
Schools
• Important partner in the
education process.
• Trusted sources of
advice and help.
• Duty of care – robust
policies + effective
implementation
Technology and young
people
• Technology is central to
young people’s lives
• Children and young people
need the knowledge and
skills to engage in a positive
way with the virtual world...
• ...and it’s critical that we start
the education process early
Cybersmart Outreach
• Internet safety
presentations
• PD workshops for
educators
• Pre-service teacher
program
• Connect-ed—online
cybersafety education
program
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