Cyber Bullying

Cyber-bullying can range from rude comments to lies, impersonations, and threats, therefore your responses may depend on the nature and severity of the cyber-bullying. Here are some actions that you may want to take after the fact. (KCSS Handout)

Suggestions include: Updating Policies, Forming a Technology Abuse Committee, Professional Development, Teaching the Students, Informing the Parents, Monitoring Computer Usage and Evaluating Survey and Violation Data. (KCSS Handout)

Promotional Poster Encouraging Students to Surf Smart, Share Less, and Think First. (KCSS Handout)

(KCSS) (From the Ad Council-YouTube videos)

The Kitchen (video) Writing Prompt (handout)
Talent Show (video) Writing Prompt (handout)
Bulletin Board (video) Writing Prompt (handout)
Everyone Knows Your Name (video) Writing Prompt (handout)
General Writing Prompt (handout)

What is cyberbullying? How common is it? And what can teachers do about it? Get advice and resources to support your students. Also, when others see cyberbullying, what can they do? In these situations, people can be bystanders, allies, or upstanders.

Topics on this handout include: “Shattering the myths of bullying”, “You Can Help”, “Who’s the bully… not my child!” and “Why don’t kids ask for help?” (KCSS 2-Sided Handout)

How can you prevent being cyber bullied?

• Don’t give out private information (Passwords, PIN)
• Be careful about posting personal information such as name, address and cell numbers
• Don’t share buddy lists
• Delete messages from people you don’t know
• Posting embarrassing photos or video
• When something doesn’t sound right, leave the chat room
• Intentionally excluding someone from an online group
• Assume no digital communication is private

How can you prevent miscommunication or becoming a cyber bully?

• Don’t email when you are angry
• Don’t forward an email that someone sent as a private message
• Don’t email with friends and target someone for entertainment

Questions before you post or send

• Is this communication kind and respectful
• How would I feel if someone else sent this to me
• Does this violate any rules, pledges or laws
• How would I feel if my actions were printed in the newspaper
• Assume no digital communication is private
• Would it be “okay” in real life or “face to face”
• How will this reflect on me and my family

It is always hurtful, sometimes unlawful and sometimes changes lives forever…

Common Sense Media – Research-based lessons to support students’ social-emotional learning and digital well-being. Media and tech have a way of magnifying the stress that young people face on a daily basis. But why is that the case? And more importantly, what can they do about it (besides just taking a break from their phones)? Support students’ digital well-being with this set of evidence-based lessons. Each is designed to help them build agency, reduce anxious thoughts, and increase mindfulness related to their tech habits. This collection was co-developed by Common Sense Education and the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Check out the Digital Well-Being Pacing Guide for implementation tips, curricular connections, and FAQs.

NetSmartz – Empower your students to be safer online with our free collection of teaching materials for students in grades K-12. With videos, lesson plans, games and more, NetSmartz can help you create a dynamic and engaging Internet safety curriculum.

Common Sense – Digital citizenship is more important than ever as students experience school virtually, in one form or another. Common Sense has a collection of short digital citizenship activities that students can complete independently, or with parents or caregivers.

NCMEC’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. 

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content.

Emailing and chatting with friends are children’s most common online activities, after studying and playing games. But like many other social situations, some kids bully other kids online. The National Crime Prevention Council provides information and resources to help curb the growing problem of cyberbullying. (downloadable resources include brochures, podcasts, PSAs, etc.)

Cyberbullying Research Center provides links and contact information to report abusive content on: Social Media, Messaging Services, Classifieds, Search Engines, Cell Phone Service Providers, Internet Service Providers and Gaming

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center researched how cyber incidents affect education agencies and the steps they can take to respond – describing what schools can do before, during, and after an incident. This also includes the most common cyber threats to students, including cyberbullying.