Cyberbullying

=Daniel //DMESC Roadshow// July 23 2008 = =The word is //cyberbullying.// = = = ="Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying.=

Cyberbullying is a relatively new word which was created after the invasion of chat rooms. Once people realized that they could say what they liked (no matter how obnoxious or intimidating), do so anonymously, and become relatively popular for doing so, cyberbullying became a fixture in most chat rooms and discussion boards. Many psychologists believe that cyberbullying is a form of catharsis (freeform expression of pentup anxieties) for the bully. Though this sounds therapeutic for the bully, the object of the bully's anger feels devastated and may even result in death. Children have killed each other and committed suicide after having been involved in a cyberbullying incident. Educators can help considerably in preventing and dealing with the consequences of cyberbullying. The first place to begin an education campaign is with the kids and teens themselves. We need to address ways they can become inadvertent cyberbullies, how to be accountable for their actions and not to stand by and allow bullying (in any form) to be acceptable. We need to teach them not to ignore the pain of others. Note: We have recently become aware that the above pictured cyberbully has been reformed and is now serving community service working as a [|CTAP] presenter to teachers on Wiki's and how to use them.
 * Take a stand against cyberbullying**