WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?
Cyberbullying is using technological means to intimidate, spread rumors/slander, harass, threaten, or otherwise use digital media to abuse someone mentally, emotionally, or verbally. Cyberbullying has the potential to cause intense harm to others because it can happen anytime, be carried around with a person anywhere, and spread quickly in ways that can never be undone.
An element of cyberbullying that is of particular concern is that sometimes children, youth, or adults don’t realize that they are cyberbullying either because of ignorance about online etiquette or because digital interactions often don’t have the benefit of the kind of nonverbal communication that happens in face-to-face communication. Also, the ability to be anonymous online or hide behind a digital medium can also too often leave people saying or doing things through digital means that they wouldn’t do face-to-face.
WHAT IS #CYBERKIND?
Cyberkindness is using technological means to uplift, serve, love, improve someone’s day, or otherwise use digital media to make life easier for someone, emotionally strengthen them, or mentally uplift them.
One of the best ways to combat Cyberbullying is to prevent it or change the desire to bully by teaching empathy and kindness. Help your students stand up for others and be the digital change by helping, serving, and uplifting others.
We recommend getting ideas from #UseTech4Good, Be an Upstander, #ICanHelp, and The Upstander Brand. Please share on social media (or email us) how you and your kids/students #UseTech4Good and are #CyberKind on social media.
“NetSmartz is specifically designed not to function as a traditional curriculum, but rather as an adaptable resource that can fit into the demanding curricula in today’s schools. NetSmartz activities can be used in any order and fit almost any time frame, allowing you to customize the integration of the resources to suit your students’ needs.” It includes animated videos and documentary shorts for classroom lessons, internet safety presentations, safety pledges, handouts, and teachable recipes.
“Whether you teach in the classroom, lead a youth group, or work with teens in another setting, Words Wound can help you guide your young people as they learn about cyberbullying, consider their own attitudes and actions (and those of others), and think about ways to delete cyberbullying and make kindness go viral.” Each student should have their own copy of the book (Book price starts at $9.99/kindle version) to utilize during class sessions—and to take home and read—to complete instructional activities. For educators, there is a Leader’s Guide to accompany this book. This is free to download.
Video reinforces that once something is put on the internet you cannot take it back, you no longer have control of it, and to not post anything you wouldn’t say in person to someone.
“Learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship through animated, choose-your-own-adventure interactive experiences, designed for grades 6-9. Invite students to explore digital dilemmas, make good (and not-so-good) decisions, and try out possible solutions through stories and mini-games – all without risking their real-world reputations.”
Watch the training video for your grade level. After receiving the training and completing a survey you'll receive a link to a certificate you can use to document professional development hours.
A one-hour online educator training covering Digital Literacy & Ethics, Inappropriate Content, Online Sexual Solicitation, Online Privacy, Sexting, Cyberbullying a one-hour online educator training covering Digital Literacy & Ethics, Inappropriate Content, Online Sexual Solicitation, Online Privacy, Sexting, Cyberbullying.
Helpful Resources & Tips
“Every day, you see how cyberbullying hurts students, disrupts classrooms, and impacts your school's culture. So how should you handle it? What are the right things to do and say? What can you do today that will help your students avoid this pitfall of our digital world? We created this free toolkit to help you take on those questions and take an effective stand against cyberbullying.”
“WiredSafety is [one of] the oldest online safety, education, and help groups in the world.” The founder and Executive Director is cyberlawyer Parry Aftab. Find out more about cyberbullying laws, prevention and how to take action. Stop Cyberbullying is a program of Wired Safety.