Cyberbulling

Cyberbullying occurs when a group or an individual uses technology to deliberately and repeatedly engage in hostile behaviour to harm someone.

Children and teenagers can cyberbully each other in a number of ways including:

  • abusive texts and emails.
  • posting unkind messages or images online.
  • excluding or imitating someone online.
  • singling someone out as being different.
  • inappropriate image or video tagging or linking online.

Children can also be effected by single remarks or off the cuff comments sent by text or posted online.  A single comment may not be considered cyberbullying, however taken out of context, can have a negative impact on the child.  The written word on a screen or in a text does not contain the benefit of the spoken voice.  It has no tone or inflection and therefore the words meaning can often be misinterpreted, often to the detriment of the receiver.

Cyberbullying can happen to anyone, not just children and teenagers. Cyberbullying can have lasting consequences and children and teenagers exposed to this treatment need support to understand and manage what is happening to them.

What is Different About Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying takes bully behaviour to a whole new level.  No longer to the bullys have to be brave enough to face you, they have technology on their side and can hide behind a computer screen or mobile device.  Cyberbullying is different to face to face bullying in the following ways:

  • It makes the bully feel anonymous, so they say things they would not say face to face.
  • It can occur 24/7, with little room for escape.
  • It is all encompassing, taking over students school, home and sporting worlds, both online and offline, leaving a feeling of being persecuted and not able to escape.
  • It has a large audience, posted online or shared via mobile technology.
  • There is no delete button on the internet.

ybermums delivers engaging and interesting Cybersafety Workshops and Sessions for parents, students and teachers to support and educate them about the risks students and children face online and the digital security they can implement to help keep young people safe online.  These workshops provide a consistent approach to cybersafety education between school and home.

The workshops and sessions are engaging and interesting, hands-on and non-technical and available to all parents and schools.  Ask your childs school if they have registered to host a parent presentation or have Cybermums conduct a Cybersafety Incursion at your school.