Cyberbullying: An Old Problem with New TechnologyTara Morse

What is Cyberbullying?

The act of harassing someone online by sending or posting mean messages, usually anonymously.

Introduction

• Harassment and other encounters have been made easy to do, thanks to Facebook and Twitter. These social avenues have opened up new forms of taunting; the ones that follow the victim home.

• These bullies feel more empowered when they are invisible on the internet and are often encouraged by their peers to say things they would not in person.

Purpose

• The significance and purpose of this topic of cyberbullying is that it is becoming a bigger issue as technology advances. It is becoming easier to type something hurtful and remain anonymous in the 21st century.

• effects of cyberbullying are felt long after the student finishes school. These effects can include isolation, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, depression, and relationship problems.

Limitations

• I focused solely on cyberbullying and not traditional face-to-face bullying. I also limited my focus to adolescents and not young children. I focused on the short-term effects of cyberbullying, rather than looking at long-term outcomes in adults.

Implications for Counselors

• It’s important that we, as counselors, make the transition from high school to college as safe as possible. It is also important to be the advocate for those in middle and high school. These students are at greatest risk to be targeted as they go through changes in their life. Those who feel alone are at more risk for social and psychological problems and are less likely to seek out help.

Cyberbullying and Mental Health

• Youth who are targeted in cyberspace are more likely to have suicidal behaviors than their peers. It is important that social supports, both from family and friends, are put in place and accessed.

• Some students might begin failing classes in school, where they were “A” students, while others can develop a form of anxiety related to attending school.

Social Media and Facebook

• Facebook and other social media (instant messages, chat rooms) are the cornerstone of cyberbullying and harassment. Ybarra and Mitchell (2008) suggest that parents need to focus more on who their children are communicating with and where and what topics are discussed.

• Facebook and Myspace were a big part of teenagers’ lives and it was not seen as normal to not have one.

• Facebook members have a tendency to trust in the system quite a bit and trust other members more than reported on other social networks like Myspace. This could be an explanation for the younger generation who don’t understand the real dangers of posting certain information online.

Advocating for the Victim and Parent Responsibilities• One way to counteract the number of

incidences is to have a school wide program in place that focuses on getting tough on the situation.

• Advocate for the LGBT students. These students are often targeted for being different from their classmates.

• The viewpoint of “kids will be kids” is no longer acceptable. Parents and school officials need to take every report seriously to build trust among students.

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