1. Issues In media studies: Cyberbullying
Lauren Paddock
John DiBattista

2. What is Cyberbullying?
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.

3. Forms of Cyberbullying
Sending mean messages or threats to a person’s account or cell phone
Spreading rumors online or through texts
Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages
Stealing a person’s account information to break into their account and send damaging messages
Pretending to be someone else online to hurt another person
Taking unflattering pictures of a person and spreading them through cell phones or the Internet
Sexting or circulating sexually suggestive pictures or messages about a person.

4. Effects of Cyberbullying
Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to:
Use alcohol and drugs
Skip school
Experience in-person bullying
Be unwilling to attend school
Receive poor grades
Have lower self-esteem
Have more health problems

5. Cyberbullying Statistics
i-Safe Foundation:
Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying.
More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.
Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through the cell phones or the Internet.
Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyberbullying occurs.
Cyberbullying Research Center:
Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form technology and a common medium for cyberbullying.
About half of young people have experienced some form of cyberbullying, and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly.
Mean, hurtful comments and spreading rumors are the most common type of cyberbullying.
Boys are more likely to be threatened by cyberbullies or their victims.

6. Why Cyberbullying is Different
Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night.
Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source.
Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

7. Rebecca Ann Sedwick

9. Groupthink and Bystander Effect
Four participant roles in the bullying process
Assistants
Reinforcers
Outsiders
Defenders
Why don’t more kids intervene?
Indirect students have heavy influence

10. How/Can We Monitor Cyberbullying?
Prevent cyberbullying before it starts
Refuse to pass along cyberbullying messages.
Block communication with cyberbullies; delete messages without reading.
Never post or share personal information online.
Never share their Internet passwords with anyone.
Don’t put anything online that they wouldn’t want their classmates to see.
Don’t send messages when angry or upset.
Always be as polite online as they in person.
Source: National Crime Prevention Council

11. Cyberbullying And The Law
Certain types of cyberbullying may violate school codes or breach anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws.
While laws differ around the world, in the U.S., cyberbullying can warrant a misdemeanor cyber-harassment charge or result in a charge of juvenile delinquency.
In some cases, if hacking or password and identity theft is involved, it can be considered a serious criminal matter under state and federal law.
If an adult becomes involved, cyberbullying becomes cyber-harassment and cyber-stalking.

12. Activity