Share these examples with your children so you’re sure they know that bullying isn’t just something that happens in person and can actually encompass a wide range of actions:
Types of cyber bullying:
Flaming - Online “fights” using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language.
Textual Harassment – Repeatedly sending offensive and insulting messages via text messaging–the online equivalent of direct bullying, this is also known as textual harassment.
Cyber stalking – Engaging in online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety.
Defaming - Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships.
Impersonating - Impersonating someone to make the person look bad, get into trouble or danger, or damage that person’s reputation or friendships. This can go as far as Identity theft (which is a serious crime and extremely disruptive to the victims life).
Outing - Sharing someone’s secrets or embarrassing information or images online. Thus destroying an individuals privacy.
Trickery - Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information, which is then shared in cyberspace. Deceiving someone online to humiliate or cause harm.
Protecting oneself against these activities is important but its also important that children (and adults) be aware so that they do not inadvertently find themselves acting in a way that could potentially get them into trouble. Many states have passed laws against cyber bullying after extreme cases led to the deaths of those who were victims of extreme cases of cyber bullying. Whether or not you agree with these laws they may apply to you and your family.
Of course, the most important factor in keeping kids out of trouble or becoming victims is for parents to communicate and take an interest in their child’s cyberspace. If you find that your child is harassing others online or is the target of cyberbullying, do not let it get out of control, it is now considered a crime in many states.
