Parents: Cyberbullying Is Real . . .

Parents: Cyberbullying Is Real , , ,

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and other electronic gadgets This variety of bullying can take place through SMS, Text, and apps, or even online in social media, forums, or gaming where individuals can view, participate in, or share content. It includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or misleading content about some individual (s). It can also include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing some type of embarrassment or humiliation. Some forms of cyber-bullying goes too far into unlawful or criminal behavior.

Common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok
• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
• Email
• Online gaming communities

Since the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts, and content shared by persons can often be viewed by complete strangers as well as friends. This same content that is shared online, both personal content as well as any negative, mean,harmful content creates a permanent public record of their views, activities, and behavior. This public record can be considered as an online reputation, which can be accessible to schools, employers, colleges, clubs, and others who may be researching an individual now or in the future. It is very possible that this type of behavior can tarnish the online reputations of everyone involved, not just the one being bullied, but those engaged in the bullying. Cyberbullying carries with it very unique concerns in that it can be:

Persistent - Digital devices offer the ability to instantly communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be very hard for children being bullied to find relief.

Permanent - Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public, if not reported and removed.

Hard to Recognize - Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see syberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.

Laws and Sanctions

All states have strict laws requiring schools to respond to bullying. As cyberbullying has become more and more prevalent with the us of technology, many states now include cyberbullying, or mention cyberbullying offences, under these laws.

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