In this lesson you will learn to recognize cyber-bullying, understand the impact it has on victims, learn ways to avoid participating, and know what actions to take if it happens to you or a fellow student.
The following videos will help you begin to think about the important topic of cyber-bullying.
To This Day
Growing up can be difficult
This video explains cyber bullying as if it were an illness. It shows the effects of the illness on a person who is suffering. Then introduces a campaign to stop the illness from spreading. As you watch the video, think about (and discuss with a partner) whether the video did a good job or presenting a problem and offering a solution.
Cyberbullying the virus that must be stopped
This video shows what happens when kids come together to solve a problem. Remember, there is strength in numbers. As you watch this video, think about (an discuss with a partner) ways you can change the culture at your school to make it a more welcoming and accepting place for everyone.
A flash mob is one way to promote change
Read the following definition of cyber-bullying and 11 facts. Copy and paste the 11 facts into a Text Entry wiki. Choose four facts that speak to you in some way. They could just be facts you find interesting, important or new learning. Under each fact, do two things: 1) describe what you have seen or experienced that supports the fact. 2) propose a solution that could help protect students from being a victim or statistic.
“Cyber bullying” is defined as a young person tormenting, threatening, harassing, or embarrassing another young person using the Internet or other technologies, like cell phones.
The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber bullying are similar to those of real-life bullying. The difference is, real-life bullying often ends when school ends. For cyber bullying, there is no escape. And, it’s getting worse. Read on to get the facts.
- Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once.
- 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online.
- Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying.
- 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem.
- 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.
- 90% of teens who have seen social-media bullying say they have ignored it. 84% have seen others tell cyber bullies to stop.
- Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse.
- Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.
- About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once.
- About 75% have visited a website bashing another student.
- Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.
The link below will take you to a very interesting web presentation. The presentation is interactive. It has resources for kids, parents, and educators. Use the presentation to learn about what you can do to be more than a bystander (someone who watches others being bullied). Take a minute to preview the link. Then come back to Canvas for the activity portion of the assignment. The image below will help you navigate the presentation before you click on the link.
Go back to your wiki Text Entry. Go to the bottom of the page and write - Activity 2.
Copy and paste the question below into the Text Entry under Activity 2. Then answer the question.
What did the presentation Be More Than a Bystander tell you about how to stop cyber-bullying that you think would be difficult to do in your school. Explain why it would be difficult.
Very few people think of themselves as bullies but anyone can be a bully or participate in cyber-bullying. The videos you watched earlier in the lesson show how easy it is to take part in making someone else's life miserable.
The following will help you think about whether you are or have been a bully. Open the Text Entry wiki, scroll all the way to the bottom and paste the questions below into the box. Then highlight Yes or No for each question. Try to be honest. You won't be in trouble for being honest. If you find you have been more of a bully than you thought, you should talk about it with a teacher, parent, or counselor.
Many young women and men are bullies both in school and outside of school. Some people may not realize that what they’re doing is bullying. Ask yourself if you have ever repeatedly hurt someone because they were younger, weaker, different, or less confident than you. Are you a bully? Take this quiz to find out.
1. Do you make mean faces or bad hand signs to others?
2. Do you spread rumors or say mean things about others behind their back?
3. Do you make fun of or tease other teens often?
4. Do you whisper secrets to a friend in front of another person and then not share the secret with him or her on purpose?
5. Have you purposely not invited someone to hang out with you and your friends?
6. Have you been or are you currently part of a clique that is exclusive about whom you can and cannot be friends with and has not let others join?
7. Do you often make fun of others because they are "different" from you or your friends? (Example: they have glasses, ugly clothes, bad hair, or a different race/ethnicity or religion).
8. Have you hazed (made them do dangerous or embarrassing things) another member of your sports team?
9. Have you ever threatened to hurt someone?
10. Have you ever punched, shoved, or hit another boy or girl?
The videos you watched talked about the effect cyber-bullying can have on the person being bullied. The information below provides a list of signs or symptoms. Not only can bullying hurt someone’s feelings, it can have other more serious effects. Some problems can even last until you are an adult! Bullying can play a role in:
- hurt feelings
- poor body image
- low self-esteem
- eating disorders, especially when teased about weight
- skipping school
- bad grades
- being afraid to go to school
- headaches and/or stomach aches
- trouble sleeping
- thoughts and acts of suicide
In very bad cases bullying others or being bullied can hurt someone both physically and emotionally — and have effects even after you become an adult!
Knowing what you know now, create a poster, video, recording, or presentation you can use to encourage students at school to do the right thing by not being a bully (cyber or otherwise). Upload your finished product as a media recording or file upload. If you create a poster, you can take a picture of it and upload the picture.