Cyber Bullying incidents tracked at 6 percent in 2000 are now estimated in range of 18% of 42% of students in grades 4 through 8. 21% to 49% of students ts in grades 6 through 12 saying they have been bullied online.*
Less than 20 percent tell their parents that they have been cyber bullying victims out of fear of loosing Internet access.
It’s a cycle. More than half of students who are cyber bullyied also display cyber bullying behaviors. Teenagers tend to respond without thought of consequences.
Cyber bullies sometimes leave their “electronic finger prints” behind. Electronic messages such as IM’s and emails leave "fingerprints" -- nine-digit numbers recorded with your ISP
Kids are safer if parents move computers from bedroom to family room
Internet bullying in 'tween' group to double by 2010
Tips: Cyber Bullying Preemption
Launch a proactive, preemptive program that replaces the natural name-calling, bullying, taunting bullying behaviors with a positive focus. Re-norm what is considered cool at school
Kamaron® Institute has successfully done with the KC3™ Positive Label Program, which has proven to decrease bullying behaviors by 50 percent.
Make sure ethics and character as bullying preemption should be included in any computer instruction given at your school.
Partner with your PTA for a parent briefing on all cyber bullying as well as bullying on buses and in school.
Encourage your school district to develop a clear, comprehensive bully preemption and cyber bulling prevention policy on acceptable computer use, both on and off school property.
The policy should spell out what constitutes cyber bullying, and list consequences.
Establish a bullying prevention relationship with your local police department, perhaps inviting “cyber cops” to your school to speak to parents and kids on proper Internet use.
* IM is short for instant messaging: an Internet communications service that enables you to have a private chat with another individual in real time. IM can alert you whenever somebody on your “list” is online.
*SMS is short for Short Message Service is similar to paging and is a service that can send short text messages to mobile phones.
Cyber Bullying Articles
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