By Jay Foster
The incidence of schoolyard bullying has stayed fairly steady for the past few decades, but the number of kids who are being harassed by text message, email, and internet chat rooms has been increasing. One of the reasons for the increase is that more kids have cell phones now. It didn't take long for bullies to figure out that this was an easy way to target their victims, while remaining anonymous, and with the added impact of making him or her feel unsafe even when alone.
This type of bully activity includes sending cruel and insulting text messages, email, or image content directly to the victim. It also includes spreading rumors via texts, email, or social networking to third parties for the purposes of humiliating the victim. In extreme cases, entire websites, videos, or profiles are created which mock the victim publicly. Like traditional bully activity, it is most common among kids between 11 and 14 years of age.
The effect on the victim is the same whether he or she has been targeted in person or electronically. Humiliation, depression, and physical manifestations such as headache or stomach ache are common. Schoolyard victims often avoid going to school in order to avoid being bullied. Online victims have no escape, which adds to feelings of despair.
All but two states in the US have specific laws that address bully activity. 35 of them include specific language that addresses electronic activities. The laws are valuable as policy, but the deterrent effect is minimal, and enforcement can be difficult. What is required is for the culture that allows bullies to exist needs to change. It may take some time, but many programs and advocacy groups are working to create just this kind of change.
In the new social paradigm, a change the behavior of bystanders is most effective at swinging the tide. Bystanders tend to fall into two groups, those who encourage the bully by laughing or cheering, and those who simply ignore the situation without taking sides. Both of these end up reinforcing the bully's behavior. Failing to reinforce the bully's behavior will cause it to be engaged in less often, as it is no longer rewarding.
In the case of online activity, kids should refuse to forward or share cruel messages or images, and should not encourage the bully with any sort of positive feedback. The perpetrator should be blocked to deny him or her an audience. In every case, an adult should be notified.
One difference between schoolyard and online bullies is that some online bullies don't realize how hurtful their actions are. Schoolyard bullies typically draw enjoyment from watching their victim's discomfort. The anonymity of online communication allows people to go further than they might if they were face-to-face. For this reason, one element of education is to teach kids to think more critically about the things they post while online.
Cyberbullying, defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices," has become a serious problem. The blurred line between private and public has led to some challenges when it comes to regulation, but there has been a push in communities, supported by the federal government, to address all bully activities more directly and to educate the public about how they can help to eradicate it.
Are you looking for more information regarding bullying? Visit http://www.mississippibjj.com/ today!
The incidence of schoolyard bullying has stayed fairly steady for the past few decades, but the number of kids who are being harassed by text message, email, and internet chat rooms has been increasing. One of the reasons for the increase is that more kids have cell phones now. It didn't take long for bullies to figure out that this was an easy way to target their victims, while remaining anonymous, and with the added impact of making him or her feel unsafe even when alone.
This type of bully activity includes sending cruel and insulting text messages, email, or image content directly to the victim. It also includes spreading rumors via texts, email, or social networking to third parties for the purposes of humiliating the victim. In extreme cases, entire websites, videos, or profiles are created which mock the victim publicly. Like traditional bully activity, it is most common among kids between 11 and 14 years of age.
The effect on the victim is the same whether he or she has been targeted in person or electronically. Humiliation, depression, and physical manifestations such as headache or stomach ache are common. Schoolyard victims often avoid going to school in order to avoid being bullied. Online victims have no escape, which adds to feelings of despair.
All but two states in the US have specific laws that address bully activity. 35 of them include specific language that addresses electronic activities. The laws are valuable as policy, but the deterrent effect is minimal, and enforcement can be difficult. What is required is for the culture that allows bullies to exist needs to change. It may take some time, but many programs and advocacy groups are working to create just this kind of change.
In the new social paradigm, a change the behavior of bystanders is most effective at swinging the tide. Bystanders tend to fall into two groups, those who encourage the bully by laughing or cheering, and those who simply ignore the situation without taking sides. Both of these end up reinforcing the bully's behavior. Failing to reinforce the bully's behavior will cause it to be engaged in less often, as it is no longer rewarding.
In the case of online activity, kids should refuse to forward or share cruel messages or images, and should not encourage the bully with any sort of positive feedback. The perpetrator should be blocked to deny him or her an audience. In every case, an adult should be notified.
One difference between schoolyard and online bullies is that some online bullies don't realize how hurtful their actions are. Schoolyard bullies typically draw enjoyment from watching their victim's discomfort. The anonymity of online communication allows people to go further than they might if they were face-to-face. For this reason, one element of education is to teach kids to think more critically about the things they post while online.
Cyberbullying, defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices," has become a serious problem. The blurred line between private and public has led to some challenges when it comes to regulation, but there has been a push in communities, supported by the federal government, to address all bully activities more directly and to educate the public about how they can help to eradicate it.
Are you looking for more information regarding bullying? Visit http://www.mississippibjj.com/ today!
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