Parents may find it daunting, perhaps near impossible to keep up with the ongoing evolution of the internet. With a steady stream of new Smart Phones continuously being introduced into the market, as well as an ever-expanding library of applications they support, there is a good chance that parents today are a little out of sync with technology and its applications. However, those cutting edge industries have captivated the youth with their shiny new technology driven devices and applications of social media. According to a report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project (www.pewinternet.org), a project of the Pew Research Center, 73% of teens age 12 – 17 have embraced and use social networking sites. Many parents may be unaware of the role in which social media plays in their children’s lives. Furthermore, parents may not fully comprehend the benefits or potential dangers these tools inherently bring. In particular, how a seemingly growing number of individuals effectively use this technology to hurt others through cyber bullying. It should come then as no surprise that many parents find themselves ill-equipped to deal with the aggressions perpetrated through social media against their children.
With the internet continuously evolving as well as the manner in which it is used/abused, the goal of Ultradad is to simply provide a fundamental understanding of what cyber bullying is and the manners in which it is used to hurt others. Additionally, Ultradad will help parents better understanding the ways in which cyber bullying is currently handled and why. Found within the article are additional resources for parents to explore regarding cyber bullying. With this goal in mind, let us start with a definition.
The Cyberbullying Research Center (www. cyberbullying.us) defines cyber bullying as, “The willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” This definition may seem broad, perhaps even vague, but it does introduce the problem in its entirety. With this working definition in mind, let us continue.
Most experts agree that cyber bullying, in one form or another, is on the rise and due to the internet’s evolving nature, cyber bullying is in need of continued study. Cyber bullying can assume many forms. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) lists a few examples of cyber bullying in a “Technology and Youth” tip sheet that is available on their website. The examples they list are:
· Disclosing someone else’s personal information in a public area (e.g., website) in order to cause embarrassment (or harm)
· Posting rumors or lies about someone in a public area (e.g., discussion board)
· Distributing embarrassing pictures of someone by posting them in a public area (e.g., website) or sending them via e-mail
· Assuming another person’s electronic identity to post or send messages about others with the intent of causing the other person harm
· Sending mean, embarrassing, or threatening text messages, instant messages, or e-mails
Keep in mind that these are the most common forms of cyber bullying. The bully’s imagination, their band width, and know how are truly the only difficulties cyber bullies have. In many cases the victim does not know who the aggressor is and thus, the psychological aspect of the problem is introduced. So how widespread is cyber bullying?
According to the Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC), the answer is dependent upon how broad or narrow the definition used to describe the problem is. In their study, the CDC concluded that between 9% and 35% of young people are victims of electronic aggression (which includes cyber bullying). So as a parent dealing with such a problem, what can you do and who can you turn to for help?
First, do not erase the evidence. The harassing emails, texts, pictures, or posts are vital with regards to building up a supporting case. Love Our Children USA (www.loveourchildrenusa.org) suggests that you take this saved information and forward it to the internet service provider (ISP) and/or website, ask that they look into the questionable comments, and to block or remove them. For example, within Facebook’s terms, they reserve the right to cancel the account of any user if it should be discovered that the user is bullying, intimidating, or harassing other users. Additionally, Facebook was recently quoted in the December 4, 2010 article “As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up” in The New York Times as stating that upon determining that a report of an imposter profile is legitimate, “We will provide a limited amount of data that helps the person take steps to repair his or her identity.”
Although much of the cyber bullying which affects today’s adolescents stem from daily school events, the actual act of cyber bullying can occur both on and off campus and during or after school hours. The gray area of questionable authority coupled with the fact that many school districts lack a clear cyber bully policy or supportive state laws, places the schools in an awkward position. One in which the schools can be great allies in mediating the problem with known cyber bullies, but while at the same time being reluctant to confront and discipline the perpetrator. The outcomes of past litigation against schools tend to reinforce this current unwritten policy which many schools seem to have taken up.
Another option parents have when dealing with a cyber bully is to contact law enforcement. Unfortunately, in order to warrant an investigation, the level of cyber bullying must meet a rather high bar. However both Stomp Out Bullying (www.stompoutbullying.org) and Stop Bullying Now (www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov) recommend that law enforcement be contacted if the bullying should escalate and include threats of violence, extortion, hate crimes, child pornography, and/or sexual exploitation (sextortion).
With the cyber bullying trend expected to rise in the coming years, it is important for parents to better understand the power of social media and how their children use it. It would also be beneficial to the family if parents could explain and point out internet dangers. Finally, we should all do our best to create a home environment which fosters open communication between parents and our children.
