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| | Stopping Cyber Bullying Requires a Community EffortCyber Bullying, the use of technology to bully or harass, is more frequent than many believe. In fact, one in three youth reported a cyber-bullying incident in the past year, with girls indicating more instances of cyber bullying than most of their male peers.1
“School behavior problems including ditching or skipping school, weapon carrying and detentions and suspensions are significantly more frequently reported by youth who were harassed online.”1 Cyber bullying must be addressed, but the challenge is when and how to intervene.
Cyber bullying everywhere, but its effect on academic performance gives schools a means for intervening in a cyber bullying incident. However, stopping cyber-bullying requires a community effort, so school personnel cannot be expected to act alone.1
Schools do not have access to children’s e-mails or cell phones and are unable to verify who sent or posted the information. Parents need to monitor these activities to protect their children. 1
The big challenge is getting youth to report cyber bullying incidents. Eighty percent of youth have a cell phone, PDA, or Internet access; many have multiple devices.2 This access to technology is necessary for the social survival of today’s adolescent.
Social networking sites, blogs, and instant messaging allow youth to connect to individuals on the other side of the world. But in reality most youth are connecting to the friend sitting next to them or a buddy in the next room.
A common response to cyber bullying is to protect youth from the incoming messages and threats by removing the Internet or cell phone. However, youth not connected to the Internet or unable to text are often left out of social interactions with friends and classmates, leaving them socially isolated.
Youth need to know that talking about cyber bullying will not automatically lead to the loss of cell phone or Internet privileges. Instead, parents and youth should talk about appropriate online and cell phone behaviors, language, and the consequences for inappropriate behaviors.
Schools can reinforce this message with cyber bullying campaigns focusing on media literacy. Campaigns whose focus is helping youth, parents, and school personnel understand what they say and do through the Internet or cell phones and how it can hurt others, are most effective. Media literacy can help give youth knowledge and skills, allowing them to make better decisions.3
Youth whose parents monitor their online and cell phone use indicated significantly fewer cyber bullying incidents and are less likely to use technology to bullying a fellow classmate.4 However, youth caution that computer filters are not the answer, as they know numerous tricks for beating the systems.
Youth already know some means for “ignoring” the cyber bullying, including blocking specific emails and how to remain invisible on cyber space, but the best defense is a community effort involving youth, parents, and school administration.
Consequences for the online bully are difficult to determine as schools have limited means for reprimanding youth who are bullying outside of school and laws have not caught up with technology. One solution is to have the youth talk face to face in a safe, respectful setting.
When a youth, who sent an angry messages or threat is later confronted, the immediate response is I was misinterpreted or I didn’t realize it would hurt you that much. Parents and youth sitting together with a neutral party, as is often done with restorative justice conferencing, can help heal the wounds and educate the youth about appropriate behaviors. Ultimately the conference allows all parties involved to determine suitable consequences for the cyber-bully.
“Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online” is a great resource for parents wanting to know more about this topic. It can be found at local bookstores. If you have questions about cyber bullying or restorative justice conferencing, the YSB is ready to help.
Author Jennifer Rockhill is a Community Justice Program Coordinator at the YSB Cottage Grove Service Center.
1 Ybarra, M.L., et al. (2007), “Examining the overlap in Internet harassment and school bullying: Implications for school intervention,” Journal of Adolescent Health, 41; S42-S50
2 David-Ferdon, C. & Hertz, M.F. (2007), “Electronic media, violence, and adolescents: an emerging public health problem,” Journal of Adolescent Health, 41; S1-S5.
3 Worthen, M.R. (2007), “Education policy implications fro the expert panel on electronic media and youth violence,” Journal of Adolescent Health, 41; S61-S63.
4 Agaston, P.W., et al. (2007), “Students’ perspectives on cyber-bullying,” Journal of Adolescent Health, 41; S59-S60.
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