Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Responsibly and securely use the internet avoid harassment and harm and respect others while you are online

The Facts Cyberbullying definition: Aggressive and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2009). Cyberbullies can be anonymous or disguised, therefore, harder or impossible to discover the identity of. Eight forms of cyberbullying: flaming, harassment, mocking/criticism, impersonation, outing, trickery, exclusion/isolation, cyber stalking. Cyberbullying hurts and greatly affects the victims in a non-positive way. It is usually not just one instance, but repeated and therefore causes long-term pain, sometimes permanent. Cyberbullying can cause a person to hate themself, transfer the aggressive behavior onto other innocent people, or worse, take his or her own life. Often, cyber bullies think they can say and do even more and be more hurtful than they would face-to-face. Harassment=hostile behavior, intimidation, abuse, taunting Denigration=belittling, mocking, unfair criticism Impersonation=pretend to be someone Trickery=dishonesty Exclusion/isolation=leaving out, keeping out, cutting off Cyberstalking=aggravating, annoying, and instilling fear in the victim repeatedly and deliberately using texts, social networking websites, blogs, digital video, email

Responsible Use for Internet Safety Do not give out or make public any personal information – whether it’s individual information or about another. Do not begin or respond to conversation with anyone you do not know. Use passwords that are strong. Difficult to guess, long, not obvious. Do not give your password(s) to friends, even a close friend. Do not create secret accounts that your parents do not know about. You need to share where you go online and what you do online with your parents. Stay off of sites that could lead you down an unsafe path, like some social networking sites, chat rooms, blogs, and hate pages. Visit trusted, reliable sites at all times: for information, homework assignments, games (Pogo=use good judgment), fun, socializing (chat roulette=bad), etc. Never post anything hurtful, harmful, cruel, or untrue about anyone, even just as a joke with a friend. Things can easily come back to trouble you. If you or someone in your house is accused and found guilty of Cyberbullying, you can lose your Internet service from any Internet provider for 1 year.

Safe Techniques Only communicate with people you know while online. If you wouldn’t talk to suspicious character out on the street, why would you talk to him/her in cyberspace? It’s just as unsafe. Only visit sites that you know are safe, and your parents have Okay-ed. If you wouldn’t go to a dangerous part of town, or an abandoned building at night, why would you visit dangerous places on the Internet? Be kind to one another, in school and on the Internet. No one has the right to make you feel badly, and you do not have the right to make others feel badly either. If it is not something you would say in person, then definitely do not say it, share it, or post it online. Avoid sending photographs. They can easily be altered and used against you.

What can you do to improve internet safety and prevent cyberbullying? Think and use good sense before you make info. public. Any information you post can potentially be misused by another person. Also do not send a message or post something when you are upset. You are not too big to ask for help and protection. Going to your parents or a teacher for help isn’t silly. Stop. Block. Tell. Stop all forms of communication, especially online. Avoid and ignore comments that may continue. Acknowledging them will usually give the other person or group of people more fuel. If the harassment continues after you have ceased all communication, block the bully or bullies. Tell your parent(s), a teacher or other school staff, or if you receive life threatening messages even a police officer. Calmly and simply defend someone you see being bullied online without putting yourself in an unsafe situation. You may be breaking a cycle, preventing a traumatic event, or making a friend. Be careful what you say or pictures you send/post. Information you display, even privately, can be copied, forwarded, shared, printed, or reposted in a manipulative (scheming, controlling) way.

Video The following video shows many of the things Ms. Reale has discussed. Watch for things you’ve learned, and be prepared to answers questions about the video in addition to the slides. Cyberbullying Video

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Resources Visit these for further information, or to review what you’ve learned today in the library with Ms. Reale. iSafe America www.iSafe.org iKeepSafe www.ikeepsafe.org NYSED http://www.p12.nysed.gov/technology/internet_safety/ Wired Safety: Internet Safety www.wiredsafety.org Common Sense Media www.commonsense.org Cyberbullying Research Center www.cyberbullying.us National Cyber Security Alliance www.staysafeonline.org Bully Police USA www.bullypolice.org Bullycide http://bullycide.blogspot.com/ Office of Cyber Security http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ocs/awareness-training-events/news/2007-01.cfm National Center for Missing & Exploited Children www.cybertipline.com