There is a new and preferred method for the kids today to harass and belittle each other. In the information age a new threat exists for our children. More and more of today’s youth are turning to a tactic known as cyberbullying. It is just as the name implies, bullying in cyberspace. It is imperative has parents and primary care givers that we update our notion of bullying and where it takes place.
It wasn’t too long ago that cell phones did not exist, that the information super highway was your local library. Computers were used for simply computational purposes and word processing was the bee’s knees. Now it might sound as if I am referencing a time when computers filled rooms and took twenty people to operate. Not so, I am talking a mere fifteen to twenty years ago, a time when things were easier and life was like a box of chocolates.
Computers really took off in the 90’s we can all remember the noise of a dial up system firing up before we heard the age-old exclamation “you got mail”. In fact in a study done by the United States Department of Labor they surmise that “Between 1990 and 1997, the percentage of households owning computers increased from 15 to 35 percent, and the amount spent by the average household on computers and associated hardware more than tripled” (Department of Labor). Those figures are staggering. Computers, were no longer found in the solely hobbyist’s garages. No, the computer dominated the landscape and could be found in more and more homes across the nation. The new age known as the information age was taking shape.
This leads me to the point of the history lesson. Perhaps we are a bit out of touch. Maybe we don’t fully realize the dangers of the digital world, after all we might still be trying to hold on to a way of life that is long gone. We must accept this fact as parents and caregivers if we are to help our children navigate the minefield of the digital space. More and more social interaction takes place in digital form. Not all of these communications are positive however. The bully has internet access and is not afraid to use it. Infact the bully has taken on a new moniker known as the “cyberbully”.
The cyberbully in the information age employs the same tactics as the older antiquated view of the bully. They set out to maime and wound. The goal is the same yet their preferred method of delivery is not physical rather it is digital. You might be wondering at this point how something digital could hurt someone in a real way. I can assure you that it does, if we employ the technology that we might not fully comprehend or embrace we can “google” many stories of cyberbullying. Stories in which the victim was harassed and tormented online, some of these stories can even end in death.
In fact, I did just this a simple google search on the subject and this is what I found. Bear in mind that the subject matter is graphic. In one story, I came across it involved a girl who was being cyberbullied by two individuals. The attack came on a platform we are all aware of and use daily Facebook. The perpetrators created a fake account using the girls picture and information. They posted such comments as ‘I’m a slut and I’m a ho. Anybody hit me up,’” and posting her number. They also would post “pictures of somebody shooting themselves, a picture of a pig with her face on it.” According to the victim’s mother. This ultimately led to the teen taking her life in front of her loved ones. (BuzzfeedNews). Many stories like this one exist and each one is just as graphic in nature and deed.
So, what do we as parents need to know about this new form of terrorism facing our kids. Well we first need to embrace the technology we introduced to the world. We need to have a working knowledge of the weapon. This will enable us to educate our children about the threats found in the cyberworld. We must understand and really believe that bullying has underwent a massive change. Like our Saturday heroes always suggested to us at the end of each escapade “now you know, and knowing is half the battle”.
Cyberbullying affects the youth of today in many ways. True not all cyberbullying events lead to death such as the story discussed above. True also is the fact that other issues such as depression, low self-esteem and suicidal tendencies lend a helping hand in stories ending such as the one above. The fact that they can end in such a horrific way should be a wakeup call to parents everywhere to get educated on this matter. Seek all the information you can on the subject, and develop a working knowledge of this problem. Only then can you effect change.
How common is this problem, how often does it occur, who does it involve, what are the means of delivery? In a recent study done by the cyberbullying research center they surveyed a nationally-representative sample of 5,700 middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States. The findings are as follows.
Of the kids involved in the study 33.8 percent of the participants reported being cyberbullied in their life time. 33.8 percent! 22.5 percent of the participants reported having mean or hurtful things posted about them online. 12.7 percent of these postings dealing in terms of a sexual nature. Another 10.3 percent report having been imitated by another person online. This sample size is small but the findings are enormous (cyberbullying research center). This study deals with the victims, but what percentage of kids are involved in this practice. How many of your children are responsible for dishing out some of this hurt? The answer to that question according Teensafe is that 15% of surveyed students admit to cyberbullying others (TeenSafe). This number Is of course probably best used as a barometer rather then a cold hard fact. Just think how many kids would not admit to such a practice in fear of being reprimanded or punished, I would bet not many.
The list goes on and on, statistic after statistic of cyberbullying. The stories are endless. It is obvious to see that we as parents are failing in this regard. We need to do more to safeguard our children against this new face of terror. According to Tweenhood an online magazine there are steps and measures we can take to help ensure our children’s online safety.
As you can see not one of the things listed below is difficult to do and even the parent with basic computer knowledge should be able to employ these simple yet effective methods to help safeguard our children. The simplest thing to do however is to be involved in your child’s online activity. In fact according to a recent survey posted online by GuardChild which reports that “43 percent of teens say they would change their online behavior if they knew that their parents were watching them” (Guardchild). That is nearly half!
Like the computers which proliferated in the 90’s so too will online social interaction. Although it can be used for a lot of good in this world, it can also be used for evil purposes. In a recent article, I was reading the author made the simple assertion that “the new playground is Facebook.” If we keep or antiquated views about bullying when where and how it happens we will be unable to help protect our digital age babies from the harm that is just a click away. I urge parents everywhere to reboot and update their understanding of what it means to be bullied.
It wasn’t too long ago that cell phones did not exist, that the information super highway was your local library. Computers were used for simply computational purposes and word processing was the bee’s knees. Now it might sound as if I am referencing a time when computers filled rooms and took twenty people to operate. Not so, I am talking a mere fifteen to twenty years ago, a time when things were easier and life was like a box of chocolates.
Computers really took off in the 90’s we can all remember the noise of a dial up system firing up before we heard the age-old exclamation “you got mail”. In fact in a study done by the United States Department of Labor they surmise that “Between 1990 and 1997, the percentage of households owning computers increased from 15 to 35 percent, and the amount spent by the average household on computers and associated hardware more than tripled” (Department of Labor). Those figures are staggering. Computers, were no longer found in the solely hobbyist’s garages. No, the computer dominated the landscape and could be found in more and more homes across the nation. The new age known as the information age was taking shape.
This leads me to the point of the history lesson. Perhaps we are a bit out of touch. Maybe we don’t fully realize the dangers of the digital world, after all we might still be trying to hold on to a way of life that is long gone. We must accept this fact as parents and caregivers if we are to help our children navigate the minefield of the digital space. More and more social interaction takes place in digital form. Not all of these communications are positive however. The bully has internet access and is not afraid to use it. Infact the bully has taken on a new moniker known as the “cyberbully”.
The cyberbully in the information age employs the same tactics as the older antiquated view of the bully. They set out to maime and wound. The goal is the same yet their preferred method of delivery is not physical rather it is digital. You might be wondering at this point how something digital could hurt someone in a real way. I can assure you that it does, if we employ the technology that we might not fully comprehend or embrace we can “google” many stories of cyberbullying. Stories in which the victim was harassed and tormented online, some of these stories can even end in death.
In fact, I did just this a simple google search on the subject and this is what I found. Bear in mind that the subject matter is graphic. In one story, I came across it involved a girl who was being cyberbullied by two individuals. The attack came on a platform we are all aware of and use daily Facebook. The perpetrators created a fake account using the girls picture and information. They posted such comments as ‘I’m a slut and I’m a ho. Anybody hit me up,’” and posting her number. They also would post “pictures of somebody shooting themselves, a picture of a pig with her face on it.” According to the victim’s mother. This ultimately led to the teen taking her life in front of her loved ones. (BuzzfeedNews). Many stories like this one exist and each one is just as graphic in nature and deed.
So, what do we as parents need to know about this new form of terrorism facing our kids. Well we first need to embrace the technology we introduced to the world. We need to have a working knowledge of the weapon. This will enable us to educate our children about the threats found in the cyberworld. We must understand and really believe that bullying has underwent a massive change. Like our Saturday heroes always suggested to us at the end of each escapade “now you know, and knowing is half the battle”.
Cyberbullying affects the youth of today in many ways. True not all cyberbullying events lead to death such as the story discussed above. True also is the fact that other issues such as depression, low self-esteem and suicidal tendencies lend a helping hand in stories ending such as the one above. The fact that they can end in such a horrific way should be a wakeup call to parents everywhere to get educated on this matter. Seek all the information you can on the subject, and develop a working knowledge of this problem. Only then can you effect change.
How common is this problem, how often does it occur, who does it involve, what are the means of delivery? In a recent study done by the cyberbullying research center they surveyed a nationally-representative sample of 5,700 middle and high school students between the ages of 12 and 17 in the United States. The findings are as follows.
Of the kids involved in the study 33.8 percent of the participants reported being cyberbullied in their life time. 33.8 percent! 22.5 percent of the participants reported having mean or hurtful things posted about them online. 12.7 percent of these postings dealing in terms of a sexual nature. Another 10.3 percent report having been imitated by another person online. This sample size is small but the findings are enormous (cyberbullying research center). This study deals with the victims, but what percentage of kids are involved in this practice. How many of your children are responsible for dishing out some of this hurt? The answer to that question according Teensafe is that 15% of surveyed students admit to cyberbullying others (TeenSafe). This number Is of course probably best used as a barometer rather then a cold hard fact. Just think how many kids would not admit to such a practice in fear of being reprimanded or punished, I would bet not many.
The list goes on and on, statistic after statistic of cyberbullying. The stories are endless. It is obvious to see that we as parents are failing in this regard. We need to do more to safeguard our children against this new face of terror. According to Tweenhood an online magazine there are steps and measures we can take to help ensure our children’s online safety.
- Encourage your child to friend only their “real” friends.
- Help set your child’s privacy settings.
- Friend your child online.
- Keep electronics in common areas.
- If you notice cyberbullying, document each post with screenshots.
- If social media is becoming a problem, have your child wait until you can sit and read the messages together.
- Interact sparingly with your child online. Observe at a distance.
- Avoid posting embarrassing photos and comments regarding your child.
- Instruct your child about social media etiquette. (TweenHood)
As you can see not one of the things listed below is difficult to do and even the parent with basic computer knowledge should be able to employ these simple yet effective methods to help safeguard our children. The simplest thing to do however is to be involved in your child’s online activity. In fact according to a recent survey posted online by GuardChild which reports that “43 percent of teens say they would change their online behavior if they knew that their parents were watching them” (Guardchild). That is nearly half!
Like the computers which proliferated in the 90’s so too will online social interaction. Although it can be used for a lot of good in this world, it can also be used for evil purposes. In a recent article, I was reading the author made the simple assertion that “the new playground is Facebook.” If we keep or antiquated views about bullying when where and how it happens we will be unable to help protect our digital age babies from the harm that is just a click away. I urge parents everywhere to reboot and update their understanding of what it means to be bullied.