The document discusses cyber bullying, defining it as bullying that takes place using electronic technology. It notes that 30% of American youth have been either a cyberbully or a target. Cyberbullying can occur through email, instant messaging, social media, texts, and other online means. The effects on victims can include frustration, depression, withdrawal, and sometimes suicide. Reasons for cyberbullying include jealousy, the large online audience, and anonymity. It emphasizes the importance of telling someone if you are being cyberbullied.
13. Youth taking nude or semi-
nude photos of themselves or
peers, and sending the photos
to a friend(s), usually by cell
phones.
14. • Greensburg, Pa.
– Three high school girls sent seminude
photos to four male students
– All faced child pornography charges
• Fort Wayne, TX.
– A teenage boy sent a photo of his private
parts to several female classmates.
– He was faced felony obscenity charges
16. • Extremely harmful
• Widely circulated
• You can’t take them back
• Unintended Consequences
17. • Unlawful Communication
• Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
• Manufacturing child
pornography
• Distribution of child
pornography
• Possession of child pornography
18. • Monitor online activity
• Be their child’s friend on social
networks to monitor content
• Know your child’s passwords
• Check cell phones
• Talk to your kids, Ask questions
Editor's Notes
What is cyber bulling? "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others". (Belsey, 2011)
Who are the participants in Cyber-Bullying? VictimCyberbullyBystander (doesn't participate, but does nothing to help the victim)Upstander (befriends the person being bullied, encourages them to report it, discourages bully from continuing)
The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center estimated that nearly 30 percent of American youth are either a bully or a target of bullying.
ExamplesJanuary 2010 Phoebe Prince killed herself after being bullied online and at school. She had been continuously bullied since she had started school in the fall after her moved to Massachusetts from Ireland. The popular girls at school did not like the fact the she started dating one of the senior football players. The bullies even posted disrespectful messages on her Facebook page AFTER her death! (Kotz, 2010) (James, 2010) 2006 Megan Meier killed herself after the mother of a former friend created a fictitious profile to harass the Missouri 13-year-old. The mother and others took turns posing as a cute boy named “josh” on MySpace. They were able to get Megan to give up personal information about herself. “Josh” then defriended Megan and private information from their conversations began being circulated to her classmates, which led to an online attack. (Millie Anne Cavanaugh) 2003, 13-year-old Ryan Patrick Halligan of Vermont hung himself after he'd been bullied online. He had thought that he had been chatting with one of the popular girls at school. He had shared personal information with her during online conversations. He later found out that the whole thing had been a joke. The girl rejected him in front of her friends and told him she had shared their personal conversations with friends. (Millie Anne Cavanaugh)
Effects of Cyber BullyingFrustrationDepression Withdrawal from family and friendsSOMETIMES it leads to suicide
ReasonsJealousy over dating, appearance, popularityLarge audience Anonymity
Where it takes placeEmailSending harassing and threatening messages to the targets of their hatred and loathing. Instant MessagingSending harassing and threatening messages to the targets of their hatred and loathing. Chatrooms/BashboardsWhere teenagers can go to anonymously and write anything they want, true or false, creating or adding mean-spirited postings for the world to see.Texting Voting/Polling BoothsOffer users the opportunity to create online polling/voting booths. Cyber-Bullies can use these Web sites to create Web pages that allow others to vote online for "The Ugliest, Fattest, and Dumbest etc. Boy/Girl at ***** School". WebsitesCyber-Bullies can create Web sites that mock, torment and harass others.
ConsequencesMany local and state authorities have authorized school systems to punish those responsible.As far as criminal penalties, the law is still catching up to technology with regard to online harassment and injuryTheories such as defamation of character, invasion of privacy, disclosure of private information, harassment, stalking and intentional infliction of emotional distress are being considered in Cyber-Bullying lawsParents could now being held accountable for their child's Cyber-Bullying if they failed to properly superviseThere are EDUCATIONAL, CRIMINAL AND FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES!In SC, minors who cyberbully can be charged with Harassment or Stalking (stalking if threat of bodily harm is included)
What can I do?EmailEmails are TraceableUse e-mail filters that will block or automatically delete messages from undesirable senders. Instant MessagingThe conversations and conflicts that start online often continue with behaviors that are acted out in person during school Create a buddy list of only people you know and trustChatrooms/BashboardsUse moderated chat rooms but even moderated chat rooms can lead to compromising, embarrassing and harassing situations. Do NOT exchange e-mail with someone from a chat room or arrange to meet someone from a chat room without a parent or guardian.Texting Voting/Polling BoothsMost of these websites have written policies that state that they do not condone the use of their Web sites for such purposes and a clear abuse reporting WebsitesYou should copy and print out these Web sites and then contact the ISP. Report any such abusive situations to ISPIf necessary contact the police or a lawyer.Don’t ever be afraid to tellIt’s not your fault!You don’t deserve to be treated that way
Don’t ever be afraid to tellIt’s not your fault!You don’t deserve to be treated that way
What is sexting?Generally speaking, sexting is youth taking nude or semi-nude photos of themselves or peers, and sending the photos to a friend(s), usually by cell phones.
Examples/consequences (Irvine, 2009) Greensburg, Pa.Three high school girls sent seminude photos to four male students All faced child pornography charges Fort Wayne, TX. A teenage boy sent a photo of his private parts to several female classmates.He was faced felony obscenity charges
Why teens do it?Get attentionHarassFlirt
Why you SHOULD NOT do itThese photos/messages can be extremely harmfulOnce they're out there, they often get widely circulatedOnce they are out there you can’t take them backThe person you are sending them to may not feel the same way you do and use these photos/messages in a way you didn’t intend
Potential Legal Consequences in SC (charges faced)Unlawful Communication (for using a phone for sexting purposes)Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (child pornography). Manufacturing child pornography if they take the photo of someone under 18Distributing child pornography if they pass the photo on to othersPossessing child pornography if they have sexting photos on their phone
What can parents do? Monitor online activityBe their child’s friend on social networks to monitor contentKnow your child’s passwordsCheck cell phonesTalk to your kids, Ask questions….kids may be embarrassed or humiliated
