Cyber Bullying

Mobiles, text messages, emails, websites

Another type of bullying has come about due to new technology: this is called ‘cyber’ bullying.

Cyber bullying:

Harassing or abusive emails and phone messages
Making silent or abusive phone calls
Spreading rumours via email or phone messages
Sending someone offensive SMS phone texts
Posting insulting messages on the internet
A type of electronic stalking can also occur, where someone sends messages over and over – this is called ‘cyber-stalking’. This type of harassment is particularly scary, as it follows the person everywhere on their phone or computer at home.

The best way to avoid this is to be careful to whom you give your personal information. You could also change your phone number and email address. If it continues, you could contact the police or your telephone provider to work out ways of protecting yourself.

The Internet

Email bullying

Do not open a message from any name you don’t recognise
Tell an adult if you keep getting messages from names you don’t recognise or from people you don’t want to communicate with.
If you recognise the sender as someone who has sent upsetting messages in the past, tell and adult.
Do not share you email address with anyone other than those you know well and can trust.

Chat rooms

Remember you can never really be sure who you are chatting to on the internet.
If you are not comfortable with any messages that you read in a chat room leave the chat room.
Do not give personal information, e.g. address, telephone, your school or your name.
Do not send you picture to anyone you don’t know really well.

Cyber bullying like other forms of bullying, is about human relationships, power and control.If a cyber bully is harassing your child, you can block emails and instant messages from that specific screen name. But be aware, bullies can easily change names. If harassment continues, contact your Internet Service Provider.

Site victimisation

A nasty recent development is people setting up a website to target pupils by inviting others to post hate messages.

Advice:

Contact your Internet Service Provider and notify them of the problem. They can then try to trace the person responsible for the site.

No matter what schools do, experts agree parents need to get involved, checking chat rooms and SMS messages. If a problem is detected, One way to stop it is to file a complaint with the web site host or the Internet Service Provider and get the material removed. Plus, always keep a record of the messages. Students should be getting printed copies of these offending messages, so they can share them with either a friend, the school or a trusted adult.

Mobile Phones

Maybe as many as three quarters of teenagers own a mobile phone. They are perfect for bullies to taunt and threaten their target with little fear of being caught, since many pre-paid mobiles can be bought (cheaply) without any proof of identity it can be impossible to trace who has sent calls or text messages from them.

Only give you mobile phone number to people you know well and can trust.
Don’t reply to any nasty messages
Try to keep the messages in your phone as they can be use as evidence.