Cyberbullying In Elementary Schools

1575 Words7 Pages

Technology has changed the way students interact with one another. Due to advances in technology cyberbullying requires very little in the way of computer skills. The perceived anonymous nature of many social media websites has emboldened students to target their peers with negative, hurtful texts and images. According to Google, cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature (Google 1). There are several aspects of cyberbullying that are different to traditional bullying. Cyberbullies have round the clock access to their victim; twenty-four hours a day they can send harmful messages via the Internet. Another factor is the anonymous nature of Internet …show more content…

According to the results of a survey conducted by I-Safe America, a non-profit organization dedicated to Internet safety, over 40 percent of children in grades 4-8 have been bullied online (Redmond 1). Cyberbullying in an elementary school exists for the same reason that more old forms of this behavior do. Some children need to exert power over other people who they perceive to be weaker or inferior in some way. Anyone with access to a computer can use technology to take a jab at someone they don't like. The fact that they can use a screen name gives them a certain degree of obscurity. Using the apparent shield of a screen name, they feel free to say things they would never say if they had to see the person face to face. Schools may not be able to eliminate cyberbullying entirely, but they can help to deal with the problem when it occurs. According to statistics compiled by the National Crime Prevention Council, approximately 160,000 children are absent from school each day because they are concerned about being bullied (Redmond 2). When students don't go to school regularly, they fall behind in their studies and their grades may be affected. Ways students can help stop cyber bullying is to tell parents, tell the school, or anyone that will …show more content…

About 80 percent of all high school students have encountered being bullied in some fashion online (School Bullying Statistics 1). These growing numbers are being attributed to youth violence including both homicide and suicide. About 35 percent of teens have been actually threatened online (School Bullying Statistics 1). About half of all teens admit they have said something mean or hurtful to another teen online. Most have done it more than