Cyberbullying is the willful and intentional harm inflicted on others through the medium of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of electronic communication.
Online bullying, called cyberbullying, happens when teens use the Internet, cell phones, or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. Cyberbullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens.
(from National Crime Prevention's website)
Teens have figured out ways to prevent cyberbullying. Follow in the footsteps of other quick-thinking teens and
- Refuse to pass along cyberbullying messages
- Tell friends to stop cyberbullying
- Block communication with cyberbullies
- Report cyberbullying to a trusted adult
You can also help prevent cyberbullying by
- Speaking with other students, as well as teachers and school administrators, to develop rules against cyberbullying
- Raising awareness of the cyberbullying problem in your community by holding an assembly and creating fliers to give to younger kids or parents
- Sharing NCPC’s anti-cyberbullying message with friends
Don’t forget that even though you can’t see a cyberbully or the bully’s victim, cyberbullying causes real problems. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online. Delete cyberbullying. Don’t write it. Don’t forward it.
- Stopcyberbullying.org presents all kinds of valuable information on the topic including prevention suggestions and legal actions you can take.
- National Crime Prevention Council's Cyberbullying Resources
- The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team provides practical tips for dealing with cyberbullies.