Curriculum

Cyberbullying

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CYBERBULLYING

  • If you say or put something online, you can't take it back - it is for everybody and forever
  • You can't control who will see what you put online - anyone can forward it on to others
  • Don't share personal information online - that material can be used for cyberbullying
  • Cyberbullying can cause a lot of damage by reaching many kids very quickly.
  • It's invasive and pervasive - in your face 24/7
  • Sometimes people send hurtful messages anonymously or pretend to be someone else
  • Posting false or private information can isolate kids and ruin reputations
  • Don't share your passwords with your friends. They can use your passwords to gain access to your email or social networks. Passwords are private - share them only with your parents

DID YOU KNOW...

  • 38% of girls and 26% of boys report being harassed or bullied online

  • 26% of teens have been harassed via their cell phones-by voice or text

  • 16% of teens have seen or heard a friend doing cyberbullying

  • 10% of teens have done cyberbullying

  • 47% of teens have sent a text message that they regretted sending

And these percentages are going up every day.

CYBERBULLYING EFFECTS

  • Kids who are cyberbullied may report feeling depressed, sad, angry, or frustrated
  • Kids who are cyberbullied are sometimes afraid or embarrassed to go to school
  • Cyberbullying can lead to bullying in school
  • Bullying in school often continues online
  • Some kids are extremely disturbed by cyberbullying. When combined with other problems, cyberbullying has resulted in suicidal thoughts or suicide
  • Cyberbullying can lead to involvement in hate groups and results in violence

IF YOU ARE GETTING CYBERBULLIED OR SEE CYBERBULLYING

If you feel hurt or threatened by someone online, there are a number of ways to respond:

  • Sometimes it's best not to respond - kids who cyberbully like to get a reaction from their targets
  • If you do respond, act assertively but calmly, telling the cyberbully to remove the harmful online material
  • Tell a friend or an adult - get help figuring out the best way to respond
  • Report the cyberbullying to your school, to the police, and/or to the online sites
  • Save the evidence - you might need it if the bullying continues or to take down a posting or site
  • Block the person doing the cyberbullying by deleting that person from your online "friends" or "buddy list"

If you see cyberbullying:

  • Don't join in the cyberbullying
  • Don't encourage it by forwarding the messages or postings
  • Intervene by showing support for the victim or telling the cyberbully to stop
  • Get help from an adult about how to respond
  • Report it to an adult, or to the site or network provider

IF YOU ARE DOING THE CYBERBULLYING

You should know. . .

  • All bullying is not acceptable - cyberbullying is a form of bullying
  • Lying, spreading rumors, telling secrets, and posting hurtful words and images hurts as much online as offline
  • The stakes are high and the potential damage is enormous
  • If you post something online, you can't take it back
  • Hurtful messages make both the target and the sender look bad
  • What you do online has consequences offline, with the kids in your school and community
  • On the receiving end of your online messages and postings are real kids with real feelings - just because you can't see them doesn't mean you can't hurt them

Don't say something online that you wouldn't say in person.

If you can't say it to someone's face, don't text it, IM it, email it, or post it online.