The Cyber Bully – How Does Technology Affect Your Children?
As more and more technological advances are made, children develop new and more interesting ways of picking on one another. Now, you don’t ever see a preteen or teenager without some type of electrical advice attached to their ear or in their hands. The birth of the cyber bully has come with this technology, and now children are not only bullied in school and social events, but from the comfort of their home computer or cell phone as well.
What is a Cyber Bully?
A cyber bully is a person who chooses to attack their victims through technological means, usually through the Internet or texting on a cell phone. This method has opened the doors for those who would not normally be bullies to find the confidence and anonymity that they need in order to take that last leap. Since an individual can be whoever they like in an online world, they choose to taunt and tease their victims in a whole new way.
Cyber Bully Statistics
It is estimated from recent studies by i-SAFE, that 42 % of students in 4th-8th grade have been bullied online. Of those 42%, 32 percent have been threatened and 21% have received a mean or hateful email. Similarly, 53% of students in those grade levels have admitted to hurting others while online, proving that many more children are willing to be bullies online than in a face to face situation.
What Can Be Done?
While the cyber bully is a fairly new phenomenon, it is one that is rapidly spreading and should be dealt with as soon as possible in order to help eliminate many of its harmful effects on those who are targeted. Helpful steps that can be taken include:
• Report the problems to your child’s school if a computer from the school building was used, or if you have reason to believe that the bully will continue their threats in a school environment.
• Alert the bullies’ ISP provider. With the high profile cyber bully cases in the news lately, Internet Service Providers are taking online threats seriously.
• Tell the police about any threats on your child’s life or about any ongoing situation that gets too hard to control.
Just because a cyber bully has the means to by anonymous and target individuals online, does not mean that there is not something that can be done to stop their behavior. If you follow the tips above, you can help to keep your children safe from harm both online and off.
