Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying: Bullies Move from Playground to the Web!
Today's bullies have moved from the playground to the Web. With the popularity of social networks increasing rapidly, it's not a big surprise that cyberbullying has grown to be a problem among primary and high school aged youths. Exactly what is cyberbullying and how can parents protect their kids?

Types of Cyberbullying

Flaming: Intense, angry arguments that are carried out over instant messaging, social networks, or chat rooms.

Harassment: Embarrassing, hurtful, or terrorizing messages aimed directly at an individual or a group using text message or online communication.

Anonymity: Any form of harassment or threats issued by an anonymous bully. The harasser may use an online alias (also known as a screen name) a blocked phone number, or a borrowed cell phone to bully, making it difficult to determine their identity.

If this becomes a growing problem, just switch to a new email address and only share it with the closest friends. The same with a social network account, like FaceBook, do not fill in all the details they are asking for especially location and name. Again, pick your Friends carefully and do not join an undesirable group.

Masquerading: Masquerading occurs when a cyber bully goes to make themselves appear to be someone they are not. For example, a cyber bully may set up a Facebook profile under another student's name and use it to harass people.

Outing: A public showing of personal conversations. Outing occurs when the harasser prints or displays emails, text, or chat communication that the victim intended to be kept private.

What can you do?
1.- Sit down with your child (not in front of the computer) and find out their opinion on the subject. Be clear on what you feel is acceptable behavior and not on your computer(s). Give them guidelines and consequences on their use and lead by example.

2.- Do not retaliate. It makes you just a bad is the other person and it is just what they want. Bullies do not like being ignored.

3.- Just about everyone knows how to list "History" files so even basic tracking is easy. Not everyone deletes it on a regular basis so it reveals sites that have been visited.

4.- It is easy to list the source of an e-mail by right clicking on an offending e-mail if authorities need to be alerted.

5.- Look in your browser under "Tools" to set blocked email addresses and the strength of spam filtering.

Other resources- Family Internet Safety
Some content courtesy of Norton