Beyond Bullying - Cyber Bullying

Cyber Bullying

"As technology advances so do ways of bullying. Chat rooms, e-mails and text messages are the latest ways bullies are getting to their victims. Recent studies suggest that around 1 in 4 young people have been bullied or threatened via their computer or mobile phone."
(Modern Menace - Connexions, Lincolnshire and Rutland)

Unfortunately, unlike 'traditional' bullying that took place (and still does) in the playground, cyber and text bullying can continue long after schools have closed their gates.

The Internet

Bullying on the Internet can happen in two ways:

1. By using e-mail
2. By somebody setting up a site with the intention to 'victimise' an individual or group of people

E-Mail:

Some advice for children and young people:

Do not open a message from any name that you do not recognise.
Tell an adult if you keep getting messages from names that you do not recognise.
If the sender is known to you and has sent messages that have upset you in the past - ignore any new messages but tell an adult about it.
Do not share your e-mail with anybody other than those you know very well and can trust.
Choose a username for chat rooms that does not show what sex you are.
If you are not comfortable or happy with messages that you read in a chat room - do not enter / leave the chat room.
Remember you can never be really sure exactly who are are chatting with on the Internet!!!
Do not give personal information - address, telephone, your school or your real name.
Do not send your picture to anyone that you do not know very well.
It can be dangerous to meet anyone that you do not know.

If you really want to then make sure:
- You take a parent with you or other adult that you trust
- You arrange to meet in a public place
- You tell your parents/ carers:
Where you are going
Who with
Who you are meeting (making sure that they know they you have first met this person on the Internet)

Website Victimisation

Some advice for pupils, young people and parents:

Contact your ISP and notify them of the problem. The person repsonsible for the site then can then hopefully be traced. Inform the Headteacher, especially if it is discovered that the site has been created by another member of the school community

Mobile Phones

Text bullying and how to stop it.

Some advice for children and young people:

Do not give your mobile number to anybody other than those you know very well and can trust.
Tell someone else about it - a teacher, parent, Peer Supporter, Connexions Advisor.
Mobiles can now be bought fairly cheaply - if you get abusive messages, it may be an option to get another phone rather than continue to use one that can cause distress. Don't reply to any nasty messages.
Try to keep all of the messages in your phone as it can be use as evidence. If you can't then note the dates and times and content of text messages.
Inform the Police - first you may want to talk to others you know you can rely on for support. Think about whether you want to talk to a member of your family, a teacher or a Connexions Advisor first? These and many more adults will be there to offer support for you to approach the Police.
When you do notify the Police - make sure you have a written record of dates, times and content of messages, especially if you have not been able to store the messages on your phone.
Sending threatening or bullying text messages is a criminal offence that the Police recognise as a crime.

A student conference was held during Anti-Bullying Week 2008 focussing on Cyber Bullying. The teachers who accompanied the students took part in a workshop created and delivered by young people form the M.A.D. (Make A Difference) group in Leicestershire. The workshop highlighted the possible dangers of social netwrking sites and MSN. You can download a copy of the powerpoint presentation below.

Think U Know is a new website with many resources for teachers and professionals to download and use in the area of internet safety. You will be required to register on the site before you are able to use the resources.

Below you can download copies of the DCFS Safe To Learn guidance on Cyberbullying and also the guidnace for school staff.