Bullying affects many adolescents and teens on a daily basis, and can go unnoticed by other students, teachers, and parents. Unfortunately, recent bullying statistics show that bullying is on the rise among young adults, teens and children. The rise in these bullying statistics is likely due to a form of bullying seen in recent years called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying involves using technology, like cell phones and social media, to bully or harass another person.
Cyberbullying can be very damaging to adolescents and teens. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Also, once things are circulated on the Internet, they may never disappear, resurfacing at later times to renew the pain of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying can take many forms:
- Sending mean messages or threats to a person's email account or cell phone
- Spreading rumors online or through texts
- Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages.
Despite the potential damage of cyberbullying, it is alarmingly common among adolescents and teens. According to cyberbullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation:
- Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying.
- More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.
- Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
- Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyberbullying occurs.
With these growing statistics, it's important for all teachers to recognize all forms of bullying and to identify ways to address bullying to their students. Here is a list of resources to help teachers with bullying. Help raise awareness to your students and help curb the growing epidemic affecting many children, schools, and communities.
Bullying in Iowa
Join students from Marshalltown, Iowa as they analyze and define the characteristics of bullying. Learn more about cyber bullying and efforts being made to help curb bullying in schools.
In 2012, Governor Terry Branstad's Bullying Prevention efforts called for students to develop their own videos expressing view points from across Iowa on the impact of bullying in their community. Here are highlights from the student videos.
The Sioux City Schools opening up their district to a documentary film crew to look at the issue of bullying. Following the film, the district, community and media joined forces to combat the problem.
Students can remember a time when physical fights and bullying were common at Harding Middle School in Des Moines. Learn how the once troubled school has created a positive culture where students are thriving.
Recognize what cyberbullying is and understand how bullies use the Internet to threaten others. Find out steps one can take to deal with a cyberbully. Recognize the dangers posed by cyberbullies and discover steps for dealing with kids who bully online.
In Growing Up Online, FRONTLINE takes viewers inside the very public private worlds that kids are creating online, raising important questions about how the Internet is transforming childhood. "The Internet and the digital world was something that belonged to adults, and now it's something that really is the province of teenagers," says C.J. Pascoe, a postdoctoral scholar with the University of California, Berkeley's Digital Youth Research project.
New York State's Dignity for All Students Act became law on July 1, 2012. This act goes further than any in the state's history to specifically spell out what constitutes a “safe and supportive” learning environment. The law deems students have the right to attend school free from bullying and harassment on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness, is a documentary about a town coming together to take action after anti-immigrant violence devastates the community. Also included in the group are two stories from Not In Our School: Class Actions about students and their communities standing together to stop hate and bullying. Teachers can use the associated lesson plans and viewing guides to support the videos and enhance their lessons on tolerance and acceptance.
Role-play situations reflecting conflicts that may occur between you and your peers. Practice problem solving skills in considering what to do in confrontations with a bully.