More Students 'Cyberbaiting' Their Teachers
A new study, which looked at the effects of technology on youth and the impact on parents and teachers, found that one in five teachers has either experienced or known another teacher who has been subjected to cyberbaiting. According to The Norton Online Family Report, cyberbaiting "is when students irritate or 'bait' a teacher until the teacher gets so frustrated they yell or have a breakdown. Students are ready for the teacher to crack and film the incident on cell phones so they can later post the footage online, causing further shame or trouble for the teacher or school."
The report also found that even though 67 percent of teachers believe interacting with students on social networks elevates the risk of cyberbaiting, 34 percent of teachers continue to "friend their students" on social networks. Furthermore, only 51 percent said that their school has guidelines that dictate how teachers and students can communicate with one another through social media.
Have you or one of your colleagues been the victim of cyberbaiting? What can schools do to better protect their teachers in cyberspace?