Cyber bullying

What is cyber bullying Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

RampAnt in india Trishna Saikia (name changed) could not believe it when her best friend created a fake profile of her on a social networking site and sent derogatory messages to common friends in a bid to get back at Saikia for dating a boy she liked. "She used my personal images and insulted me on a public forum," the victim related.  Like Saikia, many young girls and boys fall prey to online abuse and cyber bullying, which experts describe as "the intentional use of harmful words to put another person down."

Statistics According to a study conducted by McAfee, part of Intel Security, half (50%) of the youth in India have had some experience with cyber-bullying (been cyberbullied online or witnessed others being cyberbullied), out of which one-third (36%) have been cyberbullied themselves. The McAfee study aims to educate on the impact that risky behaviour has on their privacy, reputation and social media experiences. This behaviour was perceived to result in anger and embarrassment, showcasing how online behaviour translates into offline impact. 

An eye-opening trend is that half (52%) of India’s youth even access their social media accounts while at school, with tweens (57%) being more connected during school hours than teens (47%). Even though the minimum age to register to on social networking sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tinder, Tumblr, and Vine is 13, 10-12 year olds report higher daily access to than their teen counterparts. Oversharing of risky information: Despite a majority (80%) of Indian youth being aware that their online activity can affect their identity, 92% have done or posted something risky online. An added fact is that of these, 70% have posted their contact details like email, phone and home address. Youth are increasingly trusting unknown people in the virtual world, in spite of being aware that it is risky. 53% have met someone in person that they first met online. 63% of youth do not turn off their location or GPS services across apps, leaving their locations visible to strangers.

Facts Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once. 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online. Filling up your friends' Facebook feeds with positive posts instead of negative ones can boost school-wide morale. Start a Facebook page for students to submit positive acts they see in school to promote a culture of positivity on and offline. Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying. 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem. 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.

90% of teens who have seen social-media bullying say they have ignored it. 84% have seen others tell cyber bullies to stop. Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse. Girls are cyberbullied twice than boys. About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once. Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide. About 75% of students admit they have visited a website bashing another student.

Case study The Situation Henry was a shy sixth-grader who recently arrived at school from out of state. One day as he was browsing a social media site he came across a page about the school with pictures of students, including one of him labeled “The Fat Nerd.” Upset, he posted a reply expressing his dismay. The postings became nastier, and soon some students were making loud comments in the lunchroom and on the playground. A teacher overhead some of the names, and asked Henry what was going on. He described the social media page and the cyberbullying.

What Worked The school, which had trained its teachers and had a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, responded quickly. They identified the ringleaders, and with the help of their parents, had the creator of the unauthorized school page take it down from the social media site. School officials hosted sessions for parents and students about cyberbullying and how to prevent it.

What Didn’t Work Henry had to endure many weeks of feeling humiliated and hurt before anyone realized what was going on. His parents didn’t even know because Henry was too embarrassed to tell them. It will take the still-shy teen a long time to regain his confidence.

Lessons Teach your kids early about acceptable wireless behaviour, including how to identify and avoid bullying—online and off. Encourage your kids to tell you if someone texts or posts harmful or inappropriate messages or pictures about them. You may want to include this as part of your family’s rules. Learn about the wireless policies of your child’s school district and discuss them as a family. Learn about the state and/or federal laws that may help protect your kids and discuss them as a family. Use parental control tools to manage or monitor your kids activities, including social media profiles.

BIBLIO GRAPHY www.imdb.com www.stopbullying.gov www.mobile-spy.com Nobullying.com www.endcyberbullying.org www.deccanherald.com www.indianbarassociation.org www.google.com