Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as email, call phone and pager text

messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory online personal polling web sites, to deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. Belsey (2004)

Cyber-bullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she at home. It can happen any time of the day or night.
Cyber-bullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source. Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

Cyber-Bullied kids are more likely to: Use alcohol and drugs Skip school Experience in-person bullying Be unwilling to attend school Receive poor grades Have lower self-esteem Have more health problems Sometimes even have suicidal thoughts

Email Chat Rooms Voting Websites Text Messages Online Gaming Social Networking Sites Photo Messages Blogs And More

57% of students said that they have had mean or hurtful things said to them online
35% of students have been threatened online 53% admitted to having said mean or hurtful things to others online

Paying attention to how and when your children are using the internet. Parents should become more tech savvy Install blocking or filtering software

Encourage your child to talk to you if they are being bullied Limit your childs using the internet

Develop a family online agreement for using the internet. Keith and Martin (2005)

Long hours on the computer

Closes windows on their computer when you enter room Is secretive about Internet activities Behavioral changes

Is always doing homework on the Internet, but always in chat groups and getting behind with school work
May find unexplained long distance telephone call charges

Won't say who they are talking to

May find unexplained pictures on computer

Trouble sleeping
Stomach and headaches Lack of appetite, throwing up Fear of going to out of the house Crying for no apparent reason Missing or incomplete school work, decreased success in class

Lack of interest at social events that include other students Complains of illness before school or community events often Frequent visits to the school nurse or office complaining of feeling sick - wants to call Mom or Dad to come & get them Lowered self-esteem

A marked change in attitude, dress or habits Unexplained broken personal possessions, loss of money, loss of personal items Stories that don't seem to make sense Acting out aggression at home

Belsey (2004)

Never share or give out personal information, PIN numbers, phone numbers, etc
Tell a trusted adult

Dont read messages by cyber bullies

Do not delete messages; they can be used to take action

Bullying through instant messaging and chat rooms can often be blocked
Do not open a message from someone you dont know Do not reply to the person bullying or harassing you
Keith and Martin (2005)

Have pre-service teachers and teaches alike, educated on the definite seriousness of cyberbullying. Craig, Bell, and Leschied (2011) Develop a quality school acceptable use policy outlining acceptable and appropriate use of internet and cell phones. Include guidelines for how incidents should be reported, how victims will be supported, and the consequences of the perpetrators. Pearce,
Cross, Monks, Walters, and Falconer (2011)

Continuously promote the positive uses of technology. Pearce et. al (2011) Raise students sensitivity to the victims of bullying. Accordino and Accordino (2011)
Educate students regarding appropriate and safe internet behavior as well as avoidance and de-escalation strategies.

Schools should promote a zero tolerance policy for bullying in any form Ensure both students and parents that and bullying concerns will be taken seriously and dealt with sensitively, and effectively.
Keith and Martin (2005)

Parents save the evidence and print copies of messages and web sites
For a first offence, if a minor nature, ignore, delete, or block the sender Reporting: If a fake or offensive profile targeting your child is set up on a social networking site like facebook, report it to the site host

Investigate: Monitor your childs online presence

Communicate: If the perpetrator is another student set up a meeting with school administrators Parental Involvement: If you know who is doing the cyber-bullying and it is not stopping, call the childs parents and provide evidence

Legal Advice: If you cannot get an effective response after calling the parents and the cyber-bulling is continuing you should seek legal advice
Law Enforcement: Report the cyber-bullying to the police Mental health support: If your child expresses emotional distress seek help from a school counsellor or other mental health professional immediately.
Kowalski, Limber, and Agatston (2008)

Students need to be aware of the appropriate uses of technology and ways to deal with cyber-bullying to protect themselves and others if it should occur.
Schools and parents should learn how prevent, recognize, and deal with cyber-bullying in appropriate manners and in the best interest of the child. All stakeholders need to take an active role in educating children on the seriousness of cyberbullying.