Bully Prevention

Bullying has long been a problem in school but was generally restricted to the school backyard or the hallway. Technology makes bullying even much easier than it was prior to with e-mail, chatroom, and an unlimited audience online. There was a time when all bullying took place face to face now with the web, youngsters can bully each other through popular communication methods even anonymously. Standard bullies constantly had to let their sufferers see them and could only acquire the support of pals who were around. Cyber bullies can humiliate, threaten, and belittle their sufferers without their identification being understood, or they can have an audience of thousands. Cyber bullies are ending up being more and more typical as kids use these communication approaches a growing number of in their lives.

Source: Flickr

Cyber bullies can state things that they can not in front of other people in chatroom, IM’s and on web sites. This enables youngsters to be much meaner than they typically could. Things that they can not say in front of grownups and even other kids are now quickly said online. Cyber bullying is potentially an even larger hazard than conventional bullying because the potential for damaging statements is even higher. Standard bullies could only reach an audience of the other children around, with the internet hundreds of children can gang up on a single youngster.

Cyber bullying is also much easier to do than conventional bullying. All it takes is a couple of crucial strokes and a cyber bully can embarrass their target. Kids are less inhibited when online and it is not as tough to bully when it is over a computer system. Standard bullies needed to have the courage to physically bully another kid or at least use remarks to their face. Cyber bullies have to use much less effort and can be more impulsive.

Conventional bullies could only act out on their sufferers when they saw them. This restricted bullying to school and places that youngsters connected face to face. Cyber bullies can bully others at any time as cellular phone and computers are both at home and at school. Conventional bullies can not injure others at home, however with cyber bullies, home is typically where bullying happens via the computer. This leaves no safe place for the targets of bullying to go as computers are crucial nowadays for finishing schoolwork and communicating with friends.

Although emails and messages are simple to stop, cyber bullies is not as simple to stop as conventional bullies are. Derogatory and hurtful remarks posted online and shared between individuals are difficult to stop and can possibly reach an unlimited number of individuals. As soon as a remark is uploaded online it can reach a limitless number of people and the complexities can be huge. Stopping a traditional bully was relatively simple with the right preventative procedures, however the anonymous nature of the internet makes it impossible.

There are many distinctions in between cyber bullies and conventional bullies however both types are major concerns. Bullying adversely impacts both the bully and the sufferer and if not stopped can trigger major long term damage.

Cyber bullying is the brand-new means that bullies target their victims. They make use of IM’s, chatroom, and internet sites to threaten, embarrass, and belittle their victims. If your kid has actually experienced cyber bullying you need to take it seriously. Prevent your kid from replying to cyber bullying and ensure you save all the messages and images that were utilized to bully your kid. You must likewise attempt to recognize the person or individuals who are doing the bullying, and if the bullying breaks the law you can have authorities trace it for you.

Occasionally making use of unsuitable language breaches the terms of chatroom and IM service arrangements and the bully may be banned from utilizing these services if they are reported.

It is also possible to obstruct most cyber bullying attacks on the phone and computer system. Display names and phone numbers can be obstructed so that your child will not remain to get unsuitable messages. Bullies can presume brand-new names however chances are they will loose interest if they are constantly obstructed. If your kid’s cyber bullying occurs at school, you should contact the schools administrator so they can stop it. Sending out messages that are considered bullying protests school guidelines and action will be taken if it occurs on school property. There is little schools can do if the cyber bullying happens off school property, but relying on exactly what is occurring, you may have the ability to take legal action.

You could not know the identification of the cyber bully as the internet can be confidential. If you do know the identity of the cyber bully, contacting their parents is a good idea. You ought to make your contact composed and be sure to describe the circumstance in a non confrontational manner. The bullies parents might not understand that their youngster is bullying others online and will probably want to help. If you have evidence of the cyber bullying instances show them to the bullies moms and dads so that they can see exactly what is going on.

Youngsters are typically not familiar with the damage and the complexities that can take place as a result of cyber bullying, and will continue if grownups do not step in to stop them. Even if kids know the damage they can cause, opportunities are they will not stop up until grownups take action.

If cyber bullying is serious enough, it can in fact be against the law. If cyber bullying is pestering, threatening, or pornographic in nature you ought to contact authorities since this type of bullying may be illegal and you might have the ability to take legal action. Sometimes cyber bullies will swipe passwords and accounts, which is also prohibited. Contact your regional cops department and tell them exactly what has been going on. Make sure you act as quickly as you realize that your kid is being bullied online. Sometimes cases of cyber bullying can leave hand and have severe consequences. The huge audience that cyber bullying can attract make it much even worse than conventional bullying and can completely damage a child emotionally.

With advancements in technology come developments in the means kids could badger each various other. It used to be that bullying was delegated to the college lawn, but today children could utilize the internet and mobile phone to bully each various other in a manner that has actually been called cyber bullying. This brand-new type of bullying can be just as hazardous as typical bullying as well as have criminal implications.

Cyber bullying is when a kid or teen is bothered, threatened, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted for abuse utilizing the net, cell phone, or various other digital communication tool. Cyber harassing simply describes kids bugging other children, if adults are involved in the harassment than it is not called cyber bullying. Cyber harassing ought to be taken seriously due to the fact that it could be so damaging and even be illegal.

Cyber harassing might call for posting mean, lewd, or derogatory declarations regarding an individual online, sending humiliating images of a person with email or text message, or any other mean spirited act committed against one more kid utilizing that type of innovation. Given that the probabilities of cyber bullying are limitless, instances of cyber bullying can end up being quite serious, even to the factor of injury of death. There have actually been mentioned lawsuits of self-destruction and homicide associated with cyber bullying and also physical and emotional damage. Never ever think that cyber harassing will stop on its own, all the focus cyber harassing can draw is an excellent incentive for cyber harasses to continue.

Cyber bullying typically occurs consistently and is typically not an one time occurrence. Cyber bullying victims are often targeted and tormented relentlessly and the convenience of which information is shared on the net and with mobile phone makes committing acts of cyber bullying easy. Youngsters can discover many different ways to humiliate, intimidate, or belittle others making use of the internet or a cellular phone. Depending on the intensity of the offense, cyber bullying can be asked for as a criminal offense. If info or passwords were stolen or dangers were made, kids could be charged as lawbreakers for under the regulation.

Do not be afraid to peruse your kid’s civil liberties in the case of cyber bullying, occasionally it is the only way to make it quit and send the message to other youngsters that cyber bullying is no appropriate.

Although institutions try to do every little thing they could to stop and stop bullying, cyber bullying could be a hard from of harassing for a school to control. Cyber harassing that takes place off of college home is usually thought about out of the authority of the school and little could be done by administrators to quit it. Parents play a vital job in preventing cyber harassing and carefully checking children’s online and cell phone task is the very best way to do so. If you notice that your kid is having unanticipated troubles, don’t presume they are a regular part of growing up. If your kid becomes hesitant to utilize the computer system they could be experiencing cyber bullying and you need to look into to make sure they are not hurt.

Cyber bullying is the latest type of harassing and has not been researched as much as conventional kinds of bullying. Several youngsters record being harassed using the internet or mobile phone and the effects can be ruining. Kids likewise state that harasses spread rumors and state various other mean things about them online where several various folks could view it. The prospective audience for cyber bullying is unlimited making it more attractive to harasses. Bullies will likewise intimidate their victims online and belittle them for their own entertainment.

Source: Flickr

Ladies are two times as most likely as children to be cyber bullies as well as be targeted by cyber harasses. Normally kids are the most likely children to bully others however this is not true with cyber bullying. Children have the tendency to physically bully others while women use emotional methods, which can be perfectly executed over the computer. Cyber bullying also could be confidential and numerous youngsters which are the targets of cyber harassing never ever know which was harassing them. Cyber harassing is not limited to school either, it can happen anywhere youngsters have accessibility to computer systems or mobile phone. Bullying made use of to be confined to institution, yet with cyber bullying can now get to youngsters anywhere.

Cyber harassing commonly occurs in IM’s and in chat rooms. Cyber harassing can likewise happen in blog sites and on sites when a bully posts damaging aspects of their target. The internet makes bullying simple and bullies could torment targets in new means. Using the internet offers cyber harasses a more sneaky method to degrade apart from standard bullying. Concerning half of pre teenagers say to a parent concerning their encounters with cyber bullying and this number drops as children age. Cyber harassing also makes it easier for the victim to strike back against the bully as they can just as quickly post their very own harmful responses. This convenience of use makes perpetuating the bullying pattern a lot more usual. This is not always the very best suggestion, as it will most likely make the harassing even worse and only enhance the idea that bullying is ok.

Cyber harassing can affect any person and the same stereotypes that put on standard bullying do not put on cyber bullying. Cyber harasses can badger anyone, even those additional confident and well-liked than themselves. Cyber bullies can also tease youngsters older and larger compared to them because of the anonymous attributes of the web. If a cyber bully wants to injure one more person, the internet gives them the best automobile to do so.

Moms and dads should take actions to stop and stop cyber bullying much like various other sorts of harassing. Any kind of type of harassing could have major outcomes and cyber bullying could be specifically hazardous because it can reach many individuals and be so humiliating. Take cyber bullying seriously to ensure that your child does not fall victim, or bully others. Make your youngster aware that cyber bullying is undesirable and if they are the target they must mention to an adult straightaway. Acting quickly is the most effective way to quit cyber bullying before it leaves hand.

Bullying has been around forever. But now, with new technology, bullying is taken to a new level. Cyberbullying is the term for any kind of harassment, embarrassment, or bullying using the Internet, cell phones, or other interactive technology. A teenager involved in cyberbullying can receive a misdemeanor cyberharassment charge or a juvenile delinquency charge. However, if hacking or identity theft is involved, it is a serious federal crime.

What is cyberbullying ?

• It can either be done directly, or indirectly (the bully hacks your account and posts negative things that cause your friends to turn against you, for example. The friends are bullying on behalf of the bully)

Examples of cyberbullying

• Instant Messaging or Text messaging Harassment: sending mean messages to others, posing as the victim online, sending inappropriate photos, sending death threats
• Stealing passwords: posing as the victim, editing the victim’s online profile to include hateful information to offend others so they will not be friends with the victim, locking the victim out of his/her account
• Web sites: creating Web sites or blogs that insult others, posting other peoples’ personal pictures or information
• Pictures sent through E-mail and Cell phones: sending naked pictures of other teens via E-mail or Cell phones, posting these photos online, uploading them on programs where people can download them, taking pictures of teens sneakily and sending them

Cyberbullying has negative effects:

• Sadness and depression
• Suicidal thoughts and suicide
• Low self-esteem
• Violence
• Problems in school

Is cyberbullying different from traditional bullying? Yes.

• Cyberbullying can be more dangerous than traditional bullying
• The bully can hide behind a disguise so often, the victim does not even know who the bully is
• The victim does not always know why he or she is being targeted
• Cyberbullying can go viral – meaning that the attacks may be shared on the Internet for all to see, and people can easily show others
• Cyberbullies are crueler because they are not attacking their victim face-to-face.
• Finally, cyberbullying is often more dangerous than traditional bullying because parents, teachers, and other trusted adults do not always have the technological knowledge to keep up with teens’ activity online

What can I do about cyberbullying?

• Speak with a trusted adult about online experiences that make you feel uncomfortable
• Save or print all cyberbullying evidence to show a trusted adult
• Ignore minor bullying – if you respond it will just egg them on
• Look into the privacy controls on the Web sites or messaging programs you use – you can control who sees your profile, who can contact you, and more.
• If you are not involved in cyberbullying but you witness it happen – do something. Tell a trusted adult about what you saw and who was involved. And do not encourage the behavior by laughing at it or sending it to your friends.

by The Daily

When Stacy Conner picked up her daughter Ashlynn from her elementary school the day before she died, she found the 10-year-old in tears, a drastic change from the bubbly fifth-grader who had hopped out of her car that morning.

Ashlynn told her mother she had been picked on by the same group of girls who had been harassing her all week on the playground of Georgetown Ridge Farm Elementary School in Georgetown, Ill.

Kids had bullied Ashlynn for years, calling her a “slut,” “fat,” and “ugly,” so that day’s incident seemed relatively minor to Stacy: The girls had poked fun at Ashlynn’s initials, “A.C.,” saying it sounded like “air conditioner.”

Three different teachers at the school had told Ashlynn to “stop tattling” after she reached out for help, the girl told her mother. It was the Thursday before Veterans Day, and Stacy told Ashlynn she should go straight to the principal the following Monday if the bullying continued.

“But she didn’t want to wait until Monday,” Stacy told The Daily.

Ashlynn’s older sister found her hanging by her neck from a scarf in a bedroom closet on Friday night. She was pronounced dead before 9 p.m. at a local hospital, another inconceivably young victim of elementary school bullying.

Kevin Tate, the Georgetown schools superintendent, declined to comment on allegations that Ashlynn’s teachers had ignored her pleas for help.

“This very nice and pleasant girl was very well liked by both the students and staff, so this was devastating for everyone at Ridge View Elementary,” Tate told The Daily. He said grief counseling was offered at Ridge View and a few other surrounding schools yesterday.

Vermilion County Sheriff Pat Hartshorn said the death was being treated as a suicide and that his department was investigating claims of bullying, both in person and through Facebook and text messages, but would not comment further.

The school principal did not return calls or emails.

Stacy Conner, a 35-year-old unemployed single mother who lives with her parents and other daughter, described Ashlynn as a cheerful and motivated “all-American girl” who loved to ride her bike and play at the park with her few close friends, some of whom also suffered bullying. An honor roll student, Ashlynn’s latest accomplishment was learning to play all the correct notes on her new tuba.

The bullying had started in third grade. “I cut her hair because she wanted it short, and the kids called her a ‘pretty boy,’ ” Conner said.

“She came home and said that she would never let me cut her hair again, and she never did. But, as I tell my kids, bullies will pick on you for one thing, you’ll fix it, and they’ll find something else. I don’t understand it.”

The harassment continued over the next few years, by both neighborhood children and Ashlynn’s schoolmates. Conner, who was also bullied as a child, said she tried her best to give Ashlynn advice.

“I would tell her that those kids think they’re better than you, but they’re not,” Conner said. “But she didn’t understand. Only a few weeks ago, she came home and said, ‘Mom, why does everyone hate me?’ That’s how deep it went. She felt like everybody hated her.”

Conner hadn’t spoken with school officials about the bullying, but said she had considered it after Ashlynn asked to be homeschooled the day before she took her life. Conner wishes she had stepped in sooner — and that Ashlynn’s teachers had taken her more seriously.

According to the American Association of Suicidology, suicide rates among 10- to 14-year-olds have skyrocketed more than 50 percent over the last three decades.

The recent rise in media coverage of bullying-related deaths reflects these statistics, and has inspired national movements like It Gets Better and Lady Gaga’s recently launched “Born This Way” foundation.

But it’s not getting better fast enough for too many young adults: Ashley Billasano, an 18-year-old from Houston, also killed herself last week after tweeting about her intentions 144 times. Not one follower responded.

“There should be a way for kids to speak anonymously about bullying, so that they don’t feel like they’ll get picked on for tattling,” said Brandon Wills, the 23-year-old founder of the Facebook page “Stop Bullying In Vermilion County,” which has gained almost 500 supporters in the past 24 hours.

Wills, who did not know Ashlynn personally, started the group to brainstorm ways to help local kids who aren’t getting the support they need from teachers or family. He said he had been contacted by other Ashlynn-related virtual memorial groups to discuss ways to help battle bullying on a local level.

Conner attended a candlelight vigil last night for her daughter, one of many taking place in the area this week. She said she is finding solace within the community and in Wicca, the pagan religious movement she has identified with for years in what she described as “more of a spiritual way.”

No other family members identify as Wiccan, and Conner said she did not believe Wicca had anything to do with Ashlynn’s harassment.

“I believe angels and spirits exist, and that even though Ashlynn’s not here with me, in the physical sense, she is with us in the spiritual sense,” Conner said. “She’s all around. I feel her. I know that she’s here.”

By Melanie Patten, The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — The video on YouTube shows a pretty Nova Scotia teenager strumming her guitar and singing softly to her online audience. 

She is, by all appearances, a confident and talented high schooler. It’s not obvious by watching Jenna Bowers-Bryanton play her song that she is a young girl battling depression. 

And there’s no trace of a girl who, at the age of 15, chose to take her own life after months of being bullied. 

Pam Murchison, Jenna’s mother, says the torment by her daughter’s peers happened at school in Truro. But she says the harassment through text messages and cruel comments posted online was especially troublesome. 

“They told her she might as well kill herself, she was no good, she couldn’t sing, she was ugly,” Murchison recalls. “Anything that you would do to chip away at a person’s self-esteem, they did it. 

“I believe in my heart, and nobody can tell me any different, that it was the bullying that pushed her over the edge.” 

Since Jenna’s death last January, Murchison has dedicated herself to speaking out against bullying and, in particular, cyber-bullying — a problem that advocates and experts say is all too common in this digital age, yet still needs awareness and action. 

“If I can save one kid or one parent from going through what I’ve been going through, then it’s going to be worth it,” says Murchison. 

Shaheen Shariff, a Montreal-based expert on law and policy relating to cyber-bullying, says protecting victims from harassment has to start early, before children grow up to be bullies. 

Part of that, she says, is teaching youth about empathy. 

“(Bullying is) grounded in societal norms that especially now encourage so much competition,” says Shariff, an associate professor in the department of integrated studies in education at McGill University. 

“There’s a lot of putting down of people and laughing at people at their expense. There’s a devaluing of humanity.” 

Last week, with Shariff’s expertise, McGill launched a website that aims to clarify the lines between cyber-bullying and socially responsible online behaviour. 

Definetheline.ca, which includes information for young people, parents, teachers and policy makers, features videos dramatizing just how quickly vicious rumours can spread and how even the smallest lies can lead to bullying, name-calling and alienation. 

The interactive site also delves into legal issues. Can teasing be considered criminal harassment? When does spreading rumours or posting demeaning photos online become cyber-libel? 

Shariff says criminal charges can be laid in some cyber-bullying cases if there is a perceived intent to harm, but it remains rare. 

“We’re still waiting for direction from the courts on many issues,” says Shariff. 

Most cyber-bullying cases, she notes, are often settled out of court. 

“I think that’s partly because the courts are reluctant to hear them because they don’t want to open the floodgates to litigation.” 

Shariff says another part of the problem is that victims of bullying are often too fearful of retribution to come forward unless they can remain anonymous. Some victims also believe that nothing can be done about the problem, so they resign themselves to being picked on. 

Murchison says she knew Jenna was being bullied, but her daughter was reluctant to disclose details. Even when it got so bad that Murchison pulled Jenna from school for the remainder of a semester, her daughter insisted the issue be left alone. 

Shariff says schools also need to stand up for students and let them know their problems will be heard and taken seriously. 

“From my research, I’ve seen a pattern where a lot of schools are more concerned about their reputation and sweeping it under the rug,” she says. “Kids need to know they’re going to be protected.” 

Earlier this year, the Nova Scotia government announced it would set up a special task force on cyber-bullying in the wake of Jenna’s death. The government said it was also responding to the suicide of a 17-year-old girl from Parrsboro, N.S., whose parents said was also bullied at school and online. 

“We’re not naive enough to think that we’re going to solve this, but we hope that what will come out of it is some recognition that (cyber-bullying) is societal — that everyone has a role to play,” says Rosalind Penfound, deputy minister of education. 

Teachers, police, parents and mental health professionals will participate in the study group, which will be headed by Wayne MacKay, a human rights expert and law professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

 Focus groups will also be held to seek input from young people. 

It’s expected the task force will look at strengthening provincial and school policies around online bullying and at the possibility of legislation. 

As the study group does its work, Murchison says she will continue to do hers.

She has already done countless media interviews on the subject. And every so often, Murchison takes time off from her job as a correctional officer to address students at schools and tell them Jenna’s story.

It’s not easy to talk about her daughter, but Murchison believes Jenna deserves at least that much.

“It’s been hell the last four months,” she says. “But I just can’t lose her for nothing.”

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