Guide to Cyberbullying

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is threatening, lying about, stalking or otherwise harassing a person online or via other electronic communication devices like a cell phone. It is becoming a bigger problem as more and more people spend time on the Internet. There are a number of behaviors that are considered cyberbullying, including:

• Sending harassing messages
• Impersonating another person and gaining trust
• Posting someone elses’ personal information
• Posting false or unsavory information about another person
• Posting private or doctored pictures about another person
• Using the Internet to encourage others to bully the victim

Why is Cyberbullying So Serious?

It may seem like cyberbullying is a trivial matter. Even if you believe that in-person bullying is a problem, it might seem like there is little damage that can be done online. This is far from the truth, however. Cyberbullying can be even more dangerous than in-person incidents:

• It can be more difficult to stop an online bully
• Emotional violence can be more damaging than physical violence
• Cyberbullying can have long term effects as gossip, lies, photos and videos stay long after bruises fade.
• Cyberbullying follows people into the home, which would normally be considered a safe haven from this type of activity.
• It is easy to impersonate another person online, gain someone’s trust and then turn on them.

Why is Cyberbullying So Difficult to Stop?

• Traditional bullies might be suspended from school, banned from certain places or activities or even arrested, but cyberbullies are more elusive.
• The anonymity of the Internet makes it difficult to be sure who is doing the bullying
• The anonymity of the Internet makes cyberbullies, especially kids, bolder.
• Cyberbullying can cross state and even international lines, making it nearly impossible to prosecute.
• Cyberbullies may think they can’t be caught or punished.
• Others may trivialize the damage the cyberbully is doing.

Source: http://familyinternet.about.com/od/computingsafetyprivacy/a/cyberbully.htm

10 Ways to Protect Your Children from Cyberbullying
http://familyinternet.about.com/od/computingsafetyprivacy/tp/stop_cyberbullies.htm

Learn about online bullying
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/home/safety-and-security/articles/learn-about-online-bullying.aspx

Make Your Child Bully Proof
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/bullying/a/bullyproof.htm