Cyberbullying and online social cruelty:

What is it?
Cyberbullying is harassing, humiliating, intimidating and/or threatening others on the Internet. Although the Internet is most often used for healthy social communications, teens are increasingly using the Internet to deliver cruel and harmful messages and photographs. Cyberbullying sometimes involves racial, religious or culture slurs. It can also be sexual in nature. It can involve someone your child knows or a complete stranger. Cyberbylling can include cruel jokes, malicious gossip, embarrassing information or photographs, and/or Web sites designed to target a specific child or teacher.

Why is it different from old-fashioned bullying?
Cyberbullying is different from face-to-face bullying because the bully is removed from the immediate and tangible feedback of the victim. They don't "see" the harm they have caused or the consequences of their actions, which minimizes any feelings of remorse or empathy. This creates a situation where kids do and say things on the Internet that they would be much less likely to do in person.

When does it happen?
Cyberbullying occurs easily away from the watchful eye of an adult, and MNet research shows that 50% of kids are online most of the time without adult supervision. Victims can be reached anytime and anyplace and frequently with complete anonymity.

Where does it occur?
Most cyberbullying occurs off campus so schools are limited as to what they can do to prevent it.

What can parents do?
Parents are the primary character educators of our children, and bullying of any kind is a character issue. Use these MindOH! resources as a springboard for discussion about the values that are important to you as a family and how those values impact the issue of bullying and cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying Resources
Reviewed by Dr. Joyce Gayles, Clinical Psychologist, Success Coach for TransformationWorks and MindOH! Advisory Committee Member

Family Activity: Instant Cruelty
This activity will allow you and your children to define cyberbullying, explore their knowledge, attitudes and experience with it and determine your Personal Internet Standards.

Thinking It Through: It's Just The Internet
Thinking It Through: The Power of Words on the Internet
For the bully or the bystander. These reflective activities are designed to help young people who participate in online bullying. They make excellent discussion starters.

Thinking It Through: Cruel Messages in an Instant
For the victim. This reflective activity will help youngsters who have been victims of online bullying and provide a springboard for conversation with a trusted adult.

Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying by Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D., Director, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use.

Cyberbullying sources

MindOH! Anti-Bullying Activity Sheets

The following MindOH! "Thinking it Through" and "Walk the Talk" activity sheets can be downloaded for students to use to reflect on the general topic of bullying.

Thinking it Through: Bullying One on One

Thinking it Through: Bullying in a Group

Walking the Talk: Bullying One on One

Walking the Talk: Bullying in a Group

Project Wisdom and MindOH! Journaling Exercises

The following Project Wisdom and MindOH! Journaling Exercises help youth reflect on different character traits.

Diversity: I'm Unique and Unrepeatable

Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities

Respect: The Golden Rule

Self-Worth: Dealing With Anger

Confidence: Moving Toward Our Dreams

Goals, Dreams and Genius

Overcoming Obstacles: Stumbling Blocks or Steppingstones?


©2002-2004 MindOH! Foundation, All rights reserved

Mobilizing educators, parents, students, and others
to combat online social cruelty

LINK

Welcome to this web site! Cyberbullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices. The stories are heart breaking. Teens who are ...

Sending cruel, vicious, and sometimes threatening messages.
Creating web sites that have stories, cartoons, pictures, and jokes ridiculing others.
Posting pictures of classmates online and asking students to rate them, with questions such "Who is the biggest ___ (add a derogatory term)?"
Breaking into an e-mail account and sending vicious or embarrassing material to others.
Engaging someone in IM (instant messaging), tricking that person into revealing sensitive personal information, and forwarding that information to others.
Taking a picture of a person in the locker room using a digital phone camera and sending that picture to others.

Cyberbullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators and parents as young people embrace the Internet and other mobile communication technologies.

Cyberbully.org is provided by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. CSRUI provides resources for educators and others to promote the safe and responsible use of the Internet. The Cyberbully.org web site provides:

Professional Development
Information and Resources for Educators

Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying
New Book for School Leaders! Cyberbullying: Mobilizing Educators, Parents, Students and Others to Combat Online Social Cruelty.
Cyberbullying Needs Assessment Survey
Cyberbullying Workshops and Online Course
Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying An overview of this phenomenon and practical guidance on prevention, detection, and intervention.


Parent's Guide
Cyberbullying in the News Links to news reports about cyberbullying.

News Reports
Research Basis Review of the research and philosophy upon which the strategies developed by CSRUI are based.

I Can't See You - You Can't See Me: How the Use of Information and Communication Technologies can Impact Responsible Behavior
Coming Soon: Teen's Guide to Cyberbullying

Other online resources

Join a Discussion Group or Monthly Forum on Cyberbullying CSRUI has established a discussion group for professionals to discuss issues about cyberbullying. Please join us. Nancy Willard, Director of CSRUI hosts a live chat discussion on Internet Safety/Cyberbullying through Tapped-In on the third Thursday of most months at 4:00, p.m. West Coast time. More information.