Taking A Stand Against Cyberbullying Parent Workshop Taking A Stand Against Cyberbullying Parent Workshop By: Amy Huber, Harold Fortunato, Irene Vickner, Robin Shelton, Linda Gardner, Angel Castro

Welcome and Introduction 93% of teenagers today spend 2 hours or more on digital technologies every day (Pew Internet, 2009). 1 out of 5 students are victims of cyber-bullying and suffer academically, socially, emotionally and psychologically (Pew Internet, 2009). We’re here to help educate parents about cyber- bullying, and equip you to protect and intervene for your children.

Cyberbullying: The Facts rjM&feature=related

What is Cyberbullying? It is the use of electronic information and communication devices to bully an individual or group through personal attacks or other means. Being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using technological means. An individual or group that uses information and communication involving technologies to facilitate, harassment and threaten an individual or group.

Cyberbullying Technologies Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube) Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube) Cellular phones (text messages, phone calls) Cellular phones (text messages, phone calls) Instant messaging Instant messaging Chat rooms Chat rooms

Differences between Bullying and Cyberbullying BullyingCyber-bullying On School Property Off School Property On School Property Off School Property Direct Anonymous Direct Anonymous Emotions determined-----Emotions undetermined Emotions determined-----Emotions undetermined Difficult Easier Difficult Easier Limited people Unlimited people Limited people Unlimited people

Cyberbullying types/terminology “Flaming”: Fights which occur online by using electronic messages with angry and explicit language “Flaming”: Fights which occur online by using electronic messages with angry and explicit language “Harassment”: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages “Harassment”: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages “Cyber stalking”: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating. “Cyber stalking”: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating. “Denigration”: Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships. (Dissing) “Denigration”: Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships. (Dissing)

Cyberbullying types/terminology “Impersonation”: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes that person look bad, gets that person in trouble or danger, or damages that person’s reputation or friendships “Impersonation”: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes that person look bad, gets that person in trouble or danger, or damages that person’s reputation or friendships “Trickery”: Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information which is then shared online “Trickery”: Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information which is then shared online “Exclusion”: Intentionally excluding someone from an on-line group, like a ‘friend list’ “Exclusion”: Intentionally excluding someone from an on-line group, like a ‘friend list’

Effects of Cyberbullying Depression Depression Anxiety Anxiety Social isolation Social isolation Nervousness after computer/cell phone use Nervousness after computer/cell phone use Lowered self-esteem Lowered self-esteem Deficits in school performance Deficits in school performance Impaired health Impaired health (Kowalski, 2008) (Kowalski, 2008)

Factors in Cyberbullying Students involved in traditional bullying are more likely to be involved in cyberbullying Students involved in traditional bullying are more likely to be involved in cyberbullying Students involved in cyberbullying spend less time with their families and more time involved in online activities Students involved in cyberbullying spend less time with their families and more time involved in online activities Students involved in cyberbullying are more likely to have a personal online account such as MySpace or Facebook Students involved in cyberbullying are more likely to have a personal online account such as MySpace or Facebook (Twyman, Saylor, Taylor, & Comeaux, 2010)

Three Roles in Cyberbullying 1. Your child may be the victim 2. Your child may be the cyberbully 3. Your child may be the witness (bystander)

Your Child May Be a Victim… If he/she unexpectedly stops using the computer If he/she unexpectedly stops using the computer Seems nervous about receiving text messages or s Seems nervous about receiving text messages or s Does not want to go to school/avoids social interaction Does not want to go to school/avoids social interaction Seems angry, frustrated, or depressed after being online Seems angry, frustrated, or depressed after being online Avoids talking about online activity Avoids talking about online activity Retrieved from

Victimization Emotional Symptoms Emotional Symptoms Headaches Headaches Worrying Worrying Unhappiness Unhappiness Nervousness Nervousness Fear Fear (Dooley et al, 2010)

Victim Reporting… What did the student do after being cyber- bullied? What did the student do after being cyber- bullied? 40% did nothing 40% did nothing <25% told cyber-bully to stop <25% told cyber-bully to stop 40% chose to get away (i.e. log off) 40% chose to get away (i.e. log off) 6% took revenge on cyber-bully or bullied others 6% took revenge on cyber-bully or bullied others 10% informed adults/told friends 10% informed adults/told friends (Li, 2010)

Students are more likely to report if they believe that something could be achieved by telling someone Students are more likely to report if they believe that something could be achieved by telling someone Otherwise students feel helpless and that there is no easy solution or the situation can’t be fixed. Otherwise students feel helpless and that there is no easy solution or the situation can’t be fixed. (Dooley et al, 2010) Victim Reporting…

Issues in reporting: Issues in reporting: Not all assistance and support that adults provide may be useful Not all assistance and support that adults provide may be useful 46% of students who reported indicated that things either got worse or there was no improvement in the situation 46% of students who reported indicated that things either got worse or there was no improvement in the situation (Dooley et al, 2010) Victim Reporting…

Your Child May Be a Cyberbully… If he/she uses the computer excessively If he/she uses the computer excessively Is secretive about their online activity and/or avoids talking about online activity Is secretive about their online activity and/or avoids talking about online activity Laughs excessively while using the computer Laughs excessively while using the computer Has multiple online accounts and/or uses others’ accounts Has multiple online accounts and/or uses others’ accounts Retrieved from

This study surveyed a random sample of 4441 youth between the ages of 10 and 18 from a large school district in the southern United States. Data were collected in February of 2010 from 37 different schools.

20% of the students in our sample admitted to cyber bullying others in their lifetimes. Posting mean or hurtful comments and spreading rumors online were the most commonly reported types of cyber bullying they reported during the previous 30 days. About 11% of the sample reported cyber bullying using one or more of the nine types reported, two or more times over the course of the previous 30 days.

Cyberbullying Prevention Techniques for Parents

 Educate your Child  Internet Safety  Monitor your child’s activities  Look for warning signs  Teach and reinforce positive morals and values Preventing Cyberbullying Cyberbullying Research Center

Cyberbullying Intervention Strategies Top Ten Tips for Parents

1. Make sure your child feels (and is) safe and secure. 2. Talk and listen to your child about the problem in detail. 3. Thoroughly investigate and understand the situation. Cyberbullying Research Center

Cyberbullying Intervention Strategies Top Ten Tips for Parents 4. Refrain from immediately banning media access. 5. Contact the parents of the cyberbully (if possible). 6. Contact and work with the media service provider Cyberbullying Research Center

Cyberbullying Intervention Strategies Top Ten Tips for Parents 7. When appropriate, contact the police. 8. Talk to and/or alert other parents. 9. Apply firm consequences (if your child engages in cyber-bully activity). 10. Work with your child’s school staff. Cyberbullying Research Center

Quiz 1. Victims of cyberbullying are at an increased risk for traditional bullying victimization, substance use, and school problems. True or False? TRUE (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009 “Quiz”)

2. Most victims of cyberbullying tell an adult (parent or teacher) about their experience. True or False? FALSE (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009 “Quiz”)

3. Research has shown that victims of cyberbullying suffer from anger, frustration, and sadness. True or False? TRUE (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009 “Quiz”)

4. Cyberbullying does not result in physical harm to victims because it occurs (and is contained) completely online. True or False? FALSE (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009 “Quiz”)

5. Research has shown that utilizing blocking and filtering software decreases the likelihood of experiencing cyberbullying. True or False? FALSE (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009 “Quiz”)

Additional Resources for Parents Helpful Websites: Handouts

Workshop Survey Please take a brief moment to provide feedback and complete a survey. Thank you for participation!

References Dooley, J.J., Gradinger, P., Strohmeier, D., Cross, D., & Spiel, C. (2010). Cyber-victimization: The association between help-seeking behaviors and self-reported emotional symptoms in Australia and Austria. Australian Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 20(2), Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Summary of cyberbully research from Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved July 19, 2011 from Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2009). Quiz: The Facts about Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved July 19, 2011 from Hinduja, S., and Patchin, J. (2009). Responding to cyberbullying: Top ten tips for parents. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved July 19, 2011 from Response.pdf Response.pdf Kowalski, R. M. (2008). Cyberbullying: Recognizing and treating victim and aggressor. Psychiatric Times, 25 (11). Retrieved from Li, Q. (2010). Cyberbullying in high schools: A study of students’ behaviors and beliefs about this new phenomenon. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma, 19,

References Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2011). Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from Stop Bullying (n.d.) Retrieved July 19, 2011, from Think Time: How Does Cyberbullying Affect You? (2010). Retrieved online at Twyman, K., Saylor, C., Taylor, L. A., & Comeaux, C. (2010). Comparing children and adolescents engaged in cyberbullying to matched peers. CyberPsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 13(2), Retrieved from pdfviewer?sid=a6dbeddd-17ed dc0- 099ddce5bb3e%40sessionmgr10&vid=4&hid=7 Willard, N. (2010). Center for safe and responsible internet use. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from