Curb the Cyber Bullies
When students start maliciously posting mobile phone photos of their teachers on the Internet, setting up a web page about their teacher on a social networking site and inviting offensive messages, and worse, posing online as a female teacher and urging men in chat rooms to attack that teacher’s “abusive” husband, schools and authorities have to start stepping in.
What is cyber bullying? It’s when someone is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or targeted by using the Internet and other interactive and digital technologies. The tormentor or the victim or both has to be a child, preteen or teen; once it’s done by adults, it becomes cyber-harassment or cyberstalking.
When can it happen? Cyber bullying occurs through instant messaging, blogs, websites, internet polling, interactive gaming or by stealing passwords, sending pictures without permission through email and mobile phones, posting videos without permission on video sharing sites, sending malicious code, sending porn or junk email or impersonating someone else.
Why cyber bully? When teens are brought to the point of intense anger, need for revenge or tear-inducing frustration, no one can predict what they will do. Most cyber bullying though not only stems from these but also because they want to become entertained or they’re very bored and have too much time on their hands.
Are there classifications? Mind you, there are, but they’re just generalizations and do not take into account the uniqueness of each cyber bullying case.
- Vengeful Angel - Unable to see themselves as actual bullies, this type thinks they are righting wrongs or protecting someone from the “bad guy” they are targeting.
- The Power-Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds - This happens when they want to exert authority or show power or control, 21st century style. The latter classification usually targets victims one-on-one, tapping all their technology skills for their activities.
- The “Mean Girls” - When they are bored or simply looking for fun, the “mean girls” bully to boost their egos. It is often done in groups and requires an audience.
- The Inadvertent Cyberbully or “Because I Can” - They are often in denial, unaware of the fact that they are bullying other people. Pretending to be tough online or playing a role, this type does not intentionally lash out but instead responds to hateful or provocative messages without thinking of the consequences.
How can this be stopped? It all starts with educating students on the consequences of their actions. Teach them to respect others and take a stand against bullying of any form.
Schools have to get involved by disciplining students proven guilty of cyberbullying, especially if it was done using school resources. Always remember that the students’ right to free speech ends the moment they are stepping on the rights of another.
Sources:
Harrison, Angela. “Cyber bully pledge for teachers.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7313458.stm
“How cyberbullying works.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/how_it_works/index.html
“Preventing cyberbullying.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/prevention/index.html
“What is cyberbullying, exactly?” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html
“Why do kids cyberbully each other.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html
(Published 02 June 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)
