CYBERBULLYING LEAVE COMPUTERS OFF!

CYBERBULLY TEST DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE OR LOOK AT ANYONE’S PAPER! THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION!

CALCULATE YOUR TOTAL SCORE PUT THIS OFF TO THE SIDE. DO NOT SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH ANYONE!!

WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING? Cyberbullying is being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material or engaging in other forms of social aggression using the Internet or other digital technologies. Cyberthreats are either direct threats or distressing material that raises concerns that a young person may be considering committing an act of violence against others or self. Sending offensive or harassing messages

WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING? Dissing someone or spreading nasty rumors on sites such as MySpace Disclosing someone's intimate personal information Breaking into someone's e-mail account and sending damaging messages under that person's name Excluding someone from an online group Using the Internet to intimidate

HOW COMMON IS CYBERBULLYING? 90% of middle school students have had their feelings hurt online. 75% have visited a Web site bashing another student. 40% have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them. Only 15% of parents polled knew what cyberbullying was.

Harassment and Bullying A child might encounter messages via chat, E-mail, or their cellular telephones that are belligerent, demeaning, or harassing. “Bullies,” typically other young people, often use the Internet to bother their victims.

If someone is bugging me online, I just block them: from IM, from email, whatever. I know bullies crave attention and ignoring them is the right thing to do. So I don't open their messages and I don't respond. I do save messages though, because if I believe there is a real threat I need to get my parents involved and show them exactly what has happened so they can help. They can help me talk to my school or EVEN THE POLICE. But unless it comes to that - the bullies can talk to the hand!

To simply remove the computer or cell phone from the person doing the bullying does nothing to promote personal accountability or integrity. If the person caught were made to read his/her poison to his/her victim in front of both sets of parents, I wonder how proud he/she would be of his/her rhetoric. The only way to stop this bad behavior is to make the child responsible apologize to the victim, in person. The parents of the bully would then do well to explore what makes their child feel as though this behavior is acceptable and then start teaching them the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice then say nothing at all."

The four types of cyberbullies include: The Vengeful Angel The Power-Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds The “Mean Girls” The Inadvertent Cyberbully or “Because I Can”

The Vengeful Angel Doesn’t see themselves as a bully Work alone Righting wrongs or protecting themselves Try to protect friends Angry at something someone did and feel they are taking warranted revenge or teaching a lesson NO ONE should try to take justice into their own hands FIGHTING BULLYING WITH BULLYING ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE

The Power-Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds Might be female, physically smaller, not popular enough or cool enough Need to be seen as powerful and intimidating Wants: A reaction An audience To control others with fear To exert their authority To frighten or embarrass their victim To hurt another person To show their power BRAG about their actions Never have to confront their victim TOUGH ONLINE, BUT NOT IN REAL LIFE

The “Mean Girls” Ego-based and the most immature cyberbully Bored or looking for entertainment Cyberbully plans made as a group Requires an audience Want others to know who they are and that they have the power Cyberully actions grow when fed by a group or the silence of the victims letting it happen ACTIONS WILL QUICKLY DIE IF THERE IS NO ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OR RESPONSE

The Inadvertent Cyberbully or “Because I Can” Don’t think they are cyberbullies Pretending to be tough online Reacting to hateful messages or things they have seen Don’t lash out intentionally Respond without thinking about consequences Respond in anger or frustration DON’T THINK BEFORE THEY PRESS SEND

REFER BACK TO THE CYBERBULLY TEST

CYBERBULLY TEST 0 - 5 Points: Cyber Saint Congratulations! You're a cyber saint! Your online behavior is exemplary! Keep up the good work! 6-10 Points: Cyber Risky Well, you're not perfect, but few people are. Chances are you haven't done anything terrible and were just having fun, but try not to repeat your behaviors, since they are all offensive. Keep in mind the pain that your fun might be causing others! 11-18 Points: Cyber Sinner Your online behavior needs to be improved! You have done way too many cyber no-no's! Keep in mind that these practices are dangerous, wrong, and punishable and try to clean up that cyber record! More than 18: Cyber Bully Put on the brakes and turn that PC/MAC/text-messaging device around! You are headed in a very bad direction. You qualify, without doubt, as a cyberbully. You need to sign off and think about where that little mouse of yours has been clicking before serious trouble results for you and/or your victim(s), if it hasn't happened already!

READ TO YOURSELF AND REFLECT ON WHAT YOU ARE READING. HANDOUT READ TO YOURSELF AND REFLECT ON WHAT YOU ARE READING.

TOP TEN RULES FOR STAYING SAFE ONLINE Never give out identifying information such as your address, phone number, school name, town, etc. in chat rooms, forums, forms or questionnaires. Never agree to meet anyone in person that you have met online. Never reply to any email, chat messages, or forum items that make you feel uncomfortable. Never send information or pictures to anyone over the Internet that you do not know. Never give your password to anyone except your parents, no matter who they say they are.

TOP TEN RULES FOR STAYING SAFE ONLINE Be aware that people may not be who they say they are. Someone who says she is a 10-year old girl may really be an older man. Never click on links in emails from people you don't know. Don't order anything or give anyone credit card information without your parent's permission. Always tell your parents if someone upsets you or makes you uncomfortable. Always follow your parents' rules regarding computer use.

Safety Quiz http://safekids.com/quiz/index.html