Children have committed suicide after having been involved in a cyberbullying incidents. These terms "cyberbullying", "sexting" are new terms to me. Yes, my New Year's resolution was to learn texting - not my thing but a necessary item for me to know and to be able to use to communicate effectively with the world around me.
Likewise, we need to learn the perils that face our children on the Internet. Yes, the sports super heros of Brett Farve and Tiger Woods have taught us important life lessons but what can we do as a parent, as a school, as a community member to promote safe communication practices? How can we prevent cyberbullying?
Education and training are the answers - have always been the answers but I propose that we need a safety sign to remind us of our lessons.
Libraries and schools around the world should invest in signs to help teach and train the Internet users on the signs of cyberbullying.
To help us in this regards, please find below a number of great signs.
Why Safety Posters for Preventing Bullying and Cyberbullying?
Posters are preventative and safe for both the children and the school administration. The facts are very clear:
"When schools try and get involved by disciplining the student for cyberbullying actions that took place off-campus and outside of school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student's free speech right."
Yet we look to the schools for guidance and training of our youth. We cannot hand over parental control but in the schools we can send a subtle statement the cyber bullying exists - here are the signs, know what to look for, learn how to respond appropriately.
Google Alert for Family Names
Every parent MUST have a Google Alert for their child's name. Know immediately what the Internet is reporting about your loved ones.Bullying at Work - Bullying on the Internet - A Crime Against Communication
Whether bullying at work or bullying on the Internet, bullying is a crime against communication and our humanity.
Democracy is built upon communication and allowing differences of opinion. Delivering a difference of opinion must include good communication skills and the foundation is diplomacy and respecting a difference. Just because you can speak does not make you a communicator.
Computers have become an international vehicle for communication. It is here in this forum - on the world wide web that we must set the standards. The sites that are not sanctioned for harmful words should either be shut down or demoted on page rank.
A crime against communication must be policed by every person - bystanders, readers, bloggers, parents and children. Harmful words do start wars, harmful words can kill - the suicide statistics have proven that. Humanity must exert an effort to be humane.Anti-Bullying Posters Help Guide Us
We use traffic signs to control traffic. Likewise, advertisers use billboards to change behavior. In a similar fashion, our community, our schools, our libraries, our local government can prevent this behavior by broadcasting it is not our way of life. Setting the standards high is critical to open communication and protecting our freedoms.What is Cyberbullying?
"Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.
Interestingly, once an adult becomes involved it is "cyber-harassment or cyberstalking".
Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyber bullying.
Not a One Time Communication
Typically, cyberbullying is usually not a one time occurence with one piece of communication.
Cyber bullying can become a misdemeanor charge.
In some cases, if hacking or password and identity theft is involved, it can escalate to a more serious criminal matter under state and federal law.How to Spot Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is actions involving a minor, not an adult. If two adults are involved, it is not called cyberbullying - one party must be a minor - typically under age 18. Other terms you may hear are "child of tender age" - often a child under age 14. A juvenile is generally regarded for children between age 14 and under age 18.
When Adults Are Involved
When adults become involved, it is called cyber-harassment or cyberstalking.
Cyber-Harassment Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying
Cyber bullying is a special concern because it affects our children, our future leaders. IF we cannot set clear standards of communication for our children, how can we as adult become good communicators?
The Role of the Educator - School Systems Involvement
Legally, the courts have ruled that schools can be brokers and intercede in remedying cyberbullying situations but they as an educator must walk a careful line respecting the student's free speech IF the event took place off-campus which typically is the case. Schools have been sued and successfully sued. Take note, the educator is the not the solution - they can only be an intermediary offering no discipline or formal procedure - offering simply guidance on how to promote communication.
Responsibility is Ours Not the Educators
The responsibility for promoting proper communication is ours - each and every one of us. Verbal harassment is an attack - no different than any other weapon. We must take note and dispel the explosive situation. No reply is a reply in the world of email. So too, in the world of communication, harsh words escalate into adverse actions and reactions.Cyber Tips for Parents
The problem of cyberbullying is something every parent must be aware of and know the symptoms and take corrective action.
Ross Ellis, founder of Love Our Children USA, states cyber bullying has reached epidemic proportions.
Krysten Moore, former Miss Teen New Jersey, was herself a victim of cyber bullying. When it is anonymous it is hard to know who is talking to you.
Tips to Prevent Cyber Bullying from Ross Ellis:
Open Communication Lines - keep talking with your children. Express your opinion, ask if there are posters at school or in the library where the computers are located.
Set Up Google Alerts with Your Child's Name - for all members of the family this is a good idea but an absolute must for parent with young children.
File A Complaint with the Website or the Hosting Website - as soon as possible. Stop the negative communication by informing the website.
Involve Law Enforcement - call and place a report - take down the police report number. Document, document, document. Hopefully you will never need these records. Keep the police informed and listen carefully to their advise.Katie Couric Reporets 1 in 3 Children are Bullied
Last year a 13 year old girl hanged herself. This tragic death did put a spotlight on the problem of children being victimized on the Internet.
Ask children where they are going - even on the Internet.
A good honest talk with your children is the best weapon in this fight for the new world wide web and the technology that it affords us.This video opens with a boy whose name is Jay who has no one to talk to - when it started he tried to laugh it off.
"Everybody knows it hurts to grow up."
It showcases how it happens and how detrimental it is to the one being attacked.
The digital age is great but it comes with added anonymity and added responsibility to our fellow parents, children and our schools.
Stop the tears. Invest in a cyberbullying poster to showcase we care about tears and want the tears to never occur.MTV;s A Thin Line Campaign
Corporate responsibility, educational responsibility, family responsibility - who is at fault? Anyone not actively making it better.
Kudos to MTV and their "A Thin Line Campaign" that actively combats digital abuse:
MTV’s A Thin Line campaign hopes to involve young people, like you, to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse in your life and the lives of those around you. The campaign has developed two new opportunities for you to get involved and let your voices be heard: Read More!
Libraries and schools need to step up to the plate and install safety signs to help prevent these tears from ever occuring.Safety Signs for Preventing Cyberbullying
What are your thoughts? Should schools and libraries have signs above their computer terminals educating and training that cyberbullying is not acceptable behavior?© 2011 Celebrate USA All Rights Reserved.
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