What is cyber bullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
Why is Cyberbullying Different?
As use of computers and smart phones becomes more common, so does cyberbullying. It doesn’t matter where the victim is, the victim can always be bullied. Bullies do not have to confront the victim in person anymore like in the past. Bullies can
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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 cyberbullying. About 58% of teenagers admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out 10 say it has happened more than once. Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide. About 75% of students admit they have visited a website bashing another …show more content…
For example, parents need to be clear about what sites their children can visit and what they are permitted to do when they’re online. Parents need to guide their children to be smart about what they post or say. Once something is posted, it is out of their control especially if someone else forwards or screenshots it. Anyone can save what people say on the internet with just a click of a button. Also, parents should tell their kids to keep their passwords safe and not share them with friends. Sharing passwords can cause problems over their online identities and activities. For example, a child could get in trouble for something even if he didn’t post it. The only way that a child could have something posted that wasn’t from their self is from sharing a password.
Children can help also. High school teens can fill up their friends’ Facebook feeds with positive posts instead of negative ones. Doing that can boost school-wide morale. Starting a Facebook page for students to submit positive acts they see in school can promote a culture of positivity on and offline. Also, adolescents can start up a club, one that can help put a hold on cyber bullying or bullying in general.
As the data proves, cyberbullying is a huge issue among adolescents. With media devices being a major commodity of the 21st century, cyberbullying is becoming more common the physical bullying. It is hard