Cyber-Bullying and On-line Safety

Presented by:Michele Aurand, MS Ed, NCCWestern Illinois University

Illinois Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

Springfield, ILOctober 30, 2009

Did You Know 4.0 VideoDid You Know 4.0 Video

Today’s StudentsToday’s Students

• More technologically savvy than generations before them

• Susceptible to issues related to Cyber-Bullying and on-line safety

• We can help assist students in navigating this relatively new and constantly evolving territory

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?• Teach our students about:

- On-line safety

- Safe technology usage

- Safeguards are in place

What do we need to know?What do we need to know?

• Understand the culture of today’s youth

• Definition of cyber-bullying• Familiarity with Social-

networking sites• On-line safety tips • Resources available for

assistance

Who is Generation Y?Who is Generation Y?• Today’s youth are a culture in and of

themselves, known as “Generation Y”• Today’s youth number approximately 60

million • Also known as Millenials or Generation Next• Originally coined by teen expert Eric Chester,

Generation Y is typified by youth who continually question the standards and expectations imposed by society- Why does it matter?- Why should I care?- Why do I need to know this?

Generation YGeneration Y

The National School Safety Center defined the culture of today’s youth as:- Roughly between the ages of 4

and 22- Using computers since before

they were in kindergarten- Will be the bulk of the population

within the next 20 years

Generation Y & TechnologyGeneration Y & Technology

Adults who work with students should be aware: whereas most adults use the Internet primarily for work-related activities, students in the U.S., in general, use it primarily for entertainment and socialization purposes

Generation Y & TechnologyGeneration Y & Technology

• 97% of students own a computer, 94% own a cell phone and 56% own an MP3 player

• 76% of students use instant messaging, 92% of those reported multitasking while IM-ing

• 40% of students use television to get most of their news and 34% use the internet

• This generation spends at least 3.5 hours a day online

-Junco & Mastrodicasa

Generation Y & TechnologyGeneration Y & Technology

• For students, the Internet is:- a popular communication tool, like the

telephone- a familiar community environment, like the mall

or a movie theater• It is a place where they can develop their

identities, join youth subcultures, relieve boredom, or cope with emotional issues or other personal concerns

-Netsafe Kids

• Today’s youth are more technologically savvy than any other generation…• As such, they are

susceptible to issues related to cyber-bullying, social networking sites and on-line safety…

Generation Y & TechnologyGeneration Y & Technology

For example…For example…• 89% of sexual solicitations are made in either

chat rooms via Instant Messages• 20% of children age 10-17 have received

unwanted sexual solicitations online-that's one out of every five kids!- 75% of youth who received an online sexual

solicitation did not tell a parent• 4,000,000 students are posting content to the

web everyday• 15,000,000 students use Instant Messaging• 95% of adults don’t recognize the lingo

students use when text messaging or IM-ing

How Tech Savvy are you?How Tech Savvy are you?

Working in groups of 3-5 people, look at the following Internet acronyms and Text messaging terms and decide what you think they mean:

IM & Texting LingoIM & Texting Lingo 143 - 182 - BRB - BTW -BCNU -GNOC -GR8 -ILY -IRL -ISO -J/K -L8R -LMAO -LYLAS -LOL -NIMBY -

NP -NUB -OMG -P911 -PAL -PAW -PIR -POS -POV -RBTL -ROTFLMAO -RT -THX or TX or THKS -STBY -SWAK -TFH -TMI -TTYL -WTF -

IM & Texting LingoIM & Texting Lingo 143 - I love you182 - I hate youBRB – Be right backBTW – By the wayBCNU – Be seeing youGNOC – Get naked on cam (webcam)GR8 -GreatILY - I love youIRL – In real lifeISO - In search ofJ/K – Just kiddingL8R - LaterLMAO – Laughing my a** offLYLAS - Love you like a sisterLOL – Laughing out loudNIMBY - Not in my back yard

NP - No problem -or- Nosy parentsNUB - New person to a site or gameOMG – Oh my GodP911 – Parent alertPAL - Parents are listeningPAW - Parents are watchingPIR – Parent in roomPOS – Parent over shoulder POV - Point of viewRBTL - Read between the linesROTFLMAO – Rolling on the floor laughing

my a** offRT - Real timeTHX or TX or THKS - ThanksSTBY – Sucks to be youSWAK - Sealed (or Sent) with a kissTFH – Thread from hellTMI - Too much informationTTYL - Talk to you later WTF – What the f***

Bullying vs. Cyber-BullyingBullying vs. Cyber-Bullying

Talent Show VideoTalent Show Video

Bullying DefinedBullying Defined• Bullying is repeated acts over time that involves a

real or perceived imbalance of power with the more powerful child or group attacking those who are less powerful- Victim is harmed by the physical, verbal or

social/emotional tactics employed by the bully- Power imbalance or unfair match between bully

and victim- Harmful actions are repeated over time

-Hazler, 1996

What is Cyber-Bullying?What is Cyber-Bullying?

• The National Crime Prevention Council’s definition of cyber-bullying is "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person

• Basically, Cyber-Bullying (CB) is using technology to harass or intimidate someone

Cyber-Bullying ExamplesCyber-Bullying Examples

Examples of Cyber-Bullying:• Posting negative

comments or spreading rumors about someone on-line• Posting embarrassing

photos on web sites, or sending them by e-mail, IM or cell phone• Sending threatening or

abusive messages via e-mail, IM or text messaging

Cyber-Bullying vs. Bullying?Cyber-Bullying vs. Bullying?

• While bullying usually happens in-person, cyber-bullying can truly happen anywhere, anytime

• The effects are often carried over to in-person interactions

• The victim typically feels that no place is safe from harassment

The Key PlayersThe Key Players

Bullying◦Victim/s◦Bully/ies◦Bystanders

Cyber-Bullying◦Victim/s ◦Active CB Initiates actions

◦Passive CB Does not initiate but

plays along by forwarding, reading, etc

◦Bystanders

Cyberbullying VideoCyberbullying Video

Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Social Networking SitesSocial Networking Sites

What am I talking about?What am I talking about?

• Cell phones/text messages• Instant messages/e-mails• Social networking sites:

www.facebook.comwww.myspace.comwww.twitter.com

What is Facebook?What is Facebook?• Facebook is a global social networking

website• Users can join networks organized by city,

workplace, school and region • Originally designated for college students,

high school students, and now anyone over age 13

• 300 million active users worldwide• Free to users; financed by advertising• Also has it’s own internal e-mail & IM

system

What’s on Facebook?What’s on Facebook?

• User profiles with as little or as much information as the user desires

• Many “groups” to join and applications to decorate user profiles

• Users can then search profiles for classmates, childhood acquaintances, people who share common interests

• When users identify someone on the site they know or would like to meet, they can ask to be designated as a “friend”

Facebook PageFacebook Page

Facebook PageFacebook Page

Facebook PageFacebook Page

Facebook PageFacebook Page

What is MySpace?What is MySpace?

• MySpace is a social networking website similar to Facebook

• Free to users & offers an interactive network of user profiles, photos, blogs, music, and videos

• Like Facebook it has an internal e-mail & IM system

• In June 2006, it was the most popular social networking site in the United States

What’s on MySpace?What’s on MySpace?

• User profiles which can be decorated with backgrounds, pictures, music, and videos

• Users can then search profiles for friends or new people to meet

• When users identify someone on the site they know or would like to meet, they can ask to be designated as a “friend”

MySpace PageMySpace Page

MySpace PageMySpace Page

MySpace PageMySpace Page

What is Twitter?What is Twitter?• Twitter is a free social networking and

micro-blogging site that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets

• Tweets are basically status updates that users post that friends or “followers” can read

• Tweets are similar to text or SMS messages that go from one person to the world wide web rather than from one person to another

• Tweets can be sent via the web or cell phone

Twitter PageTwitter Page

Twitter PageTwitter Page

Keeping Safe On-lineKeeping Safe On-line

• Select a gender-neutral username, email address, etc• Keep your primary email address private • Get a free email account• Don't give out information simply because it is requested • Block or ignore unwanted users• Don't allow others to draw you into conflict• Lurk in a new forum to learn local customs• If a place becomes stressful, leave it• When you change, really change

Keeping Safe On-lineKeeping Safe On-line

• Watch what you "say" online• Know what's in your signature file• Never use a business account for personal use• Ego Surf• Never give your password to anyone• Don't provide your credit card number or other identifying

information• Instruct students to never, ever give out personal information• Be very cautious about posting pictures

-www.haltabuse.org

On-line ResourcesOn-line Resources

• www.staysafeonline.org• www.haltabuse.org• www.mcgruff.org• www.stayingsafeonline.com• www.wiredsafety.org• www.safefamilies.org• www.netsmartz.org

Remember…Remember…

“The promise of technology is absolutely brilliant! But we have to understand that the world our kids are growing up in is different than it was in the past. We can’t condemn it, but we need to give our kids enough information to cope with the world they are living in…We need to show kids all the positive potential for teaching and learning that all this connectivity brings.”

-Belsey, 2007

Questions?Questions?

E-THUGSCause talkin smack in person is dangerous!