Internet Safety:Cyberbullying

An Academia CotopaxiInternet Safety Workshop

Academia Cotopaxi Internet Safety Committee

The New Reality… “Kids today!” Our children/students are “Digital Natives”

◦ Born after 1995 (wide-spread of WWW)◦ “Our students today are all ‘native speakers’ of the

digital language of computers, video games and the Internet…” – Mark Prensky

Internet connected 24/7◦ Laptops, Smart Phones, Tablets…◦ Wi-Fi, 3G/4G

Online Social Lives◦ Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Online School Lives—Edline, wikis, blogs, etc.

Overview: Our Digital Natives

http://mar9arita.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/digital-native-def.jpg

95% Teens (US) online, 63% daily (July 2011)

80% Teens have online profile◦ (i.e., in Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or other)

38% Facebook users are under age 13 77% Teens have a cell phone

◦ 58% of 12 year olds Avg. of 3400 Texts per month

◦ (Source: Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Florida Atlantic University)

7.5 million Facebook users under 13◦ “two-thirds of those kids are under 10”◦ (Sources: PC World Bradley, 2011; CNET Matyszczyk, 2012)

Statistics: Digital Generation

More Facebook Info… How much do your children use Facebook?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57413806-71/thirty-eight-percent-of-kids-on-facebook-under-13/

The Good: Connectivity◦ Sharing Lives◦ Making Friends◦ Working and Playing

The Bad: Inappropriate Content◦ Porn, Violence, Advertising,

Gambling, Malware/Spyware, Spam

And… The Ugly: Cyberbullying

The Good? The Bad? The Ugly…

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Definition 1: Cyberbullying is when someone “repeatedly makes fun of another person online or repeatedly picks on another person through email or text message or when someone posts something online about another person that they don’t like.”

(http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf)

Cyberbullying: What is it?

Definition 2: "Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. (http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html)

Cyberbullying: What is it?

AC Definition:Cyber-bullying, defined as the use of Information Communications Technology, or ICT, particularly mobile phones or other handheld devices and the Internet, deliberately to upset/attack someone else including, but not limited to emails, text/instant messages, chat rooms, and social networking sites.(AC Administrative Policy Manual 6440 Bullying and Harassment – Definitions)

Cyberbullying: What is it?

20% of 11-18 year olds have been victims of cyberbullying—one in five kids!

30% of “children” indicate they’ve “faced” Cyberbullying—one in four kids!

10% indicate being both victim and abuser

74% of Parents are concerned about their child’s safety on Facebook

But, Cyberbullying ranked only 4th in their safety concerns

Statistics: Cyberbullying

Sources: Dr. Sameer Hinduja, CNET Matyszczyk, 2012

Causes – anger, revenge, frustration◦ Accidental, purposeful – good & bad intentions

Consequences – “cyber-world” to “real world”…◦ Emotional impact◦ Feeling sad, angry, frustrated◦ Embarrassed (to go to school)◦ Low self-esteem◦ Alienation

Suicidal thoughts—the worst case Victims become bullies – the cycle continues…

Cyberbullying: What are it’s causes & consequences?

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http://kidinternetsafetyguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/cyber-bully-affects-real-lives.jpg

“Direct attacks”◦ “messages sent to your kids directly”◦ i.e., IM, text, Facebook/Twitter, stealing passwords,

blogs, websites, sending pictures, internet polling, interactive gaming, sending malware/viruses, sending porn/spamming, impersonation)

“Cyberbullying by proxy”◦ “using others to help cyberbully the victim, either

with or without the accomplice's knowledge”◦ i.e., Facebook “Like” someone else’s direct attack;

impersonation to turn friends against victim; blaming victim for actions—falsely accusing them (with website “Report Abuse”, with parents, teachers/school; getting others to attack the victim

Cyberbullying: How does it work?

Anonymity – victims may not know who the bully is…◦ Screen names, pseudonyms used

Large numbers (dozens, hundreds, more…)◦ “Going Viral”/cyber-attack—exponential growth◦ Perception is that “everyone knows about it”

Distance/remote location◦ Easier to be cruel from afar◦ Not recognized as harmful/hurtful◦ Can be immediate or delayed bullying

Adults (schools) often don’t know how to deal with it… Technology gap, recognition gap

Cyberbullying: How is it different from traditional bullying?

Source: http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Cyberbullying: Warning Signs

Victim of Cyberbullying Cyberbully

Unexpectedly stops using computer or cell phone

Nervous when IM, text, status update, Tweet, email or other message appears

Appears uneasy or worried about going to school

Angry/depressed/frustrated after using computer/cell phone

Unusually withdrawn from friends and family

Avoids discussions about computer or cell phone use; doesn’t want to show or share Facebook

Quickly switches or closes screens/apps when you walk by

Being evasive about computer/cell phone use

Uses the computer at all hours of the night

Laughs excessively while using the computer

Using multiple online accounts (or accounts that are not their own); using anonymous accounts or pseudonyms

Cyberbullying happens all around the world Cyberbullying will likely increase in coming

years here in Quito and in Ecuador Cyberbullying will likely affect your child at

some point, as: Victim, Abuser, or Bystander…

Cyberbullying has occurred here at AC, and will occur again…

Cyberbullying is not recognized as an Internet Safety Parent-Partnership issue as much as it should be…

Cyberbullying: Thoughts…

Workshop Goals:◦ Awareness – about cyberbullying & online lives◦ Concerns – about impact of cyberbullying◦ Information – info & resources for

parents/teachers◦ Ideas – things you can do at home

Workshop Structure:◦ Videos/article – small group discussions◦ Whole group discussions/processing◦ Extension activities

Online Resources: Workshop wiki page Share ideas as comments on wiki page

Cyberbullying: Workshop Agenda

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Cyberbullying: What will we do?

Parents School (AC)