Cyber Bullying

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

(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.

How to Stop Cyber-bullying on Popular Websites including MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Twitter and YouTube. (thinkuknow.org)

When looking at school safety in general, few (if any) would place cyber-bullying in the same category of fear as a school shooter or natural disaster. Cyber-bullying seems petty when compared to just about any school tragedy. (KCSS)

Topics on this handout include: “Characteristics of those who bully,” “Alarming Stats,” “Characteristics of Victims,” and “Long-Term Effects of Bullying” (KCSS)

Protecting your personal information is of utmost importance. You don’t have to submit this information online for it to be there. Online directories and databases share this information freely. 

Topics on this handout include step-by-step instructions on canceling a MySpace account.

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…

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.

The mission of Embrace Civility (former name was Embrace Civility in the Digital Age) is to provide guidance to caring adults so they can better engage young people to embrace civility and foster positive relations.

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.