Cyberbullying is completely different. We have learned that there is no ‘typical’ stereotype for cyberbullies. They may be socially anxious and not engage in bullying offline (Kowalski & Limber, 2007). This makes it harder to determine who will engage in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying used to be a tale you'd hear about every once in awhile about how someone had been mean to their child. This has escalated to the point of teen suicide rates increasing due to cyberbullying. I believe that educating and talking about cyberbullying will help students. Talking about it, learning about it, engaging in activities that have to do with cyberbullying will help limit it. If we can give students an opportunity to practice using their voices and to speak up about cyberbullying, even if it’s hard and scary, everyone will be better off. We need to make this a part of every core curriculum. With technology advancing and most subjects including technology (especially during this pandemic and all the online learning), cyberbullying can be included in digital citizenship. Most schools/districts have some form of digital citizenship class/learning that goes on, but we don’t spend enough time on it. With students shifting towards learning online, we need to educate them, not only with technology, but about technology. The more that students learn about online etiquette, the more comfortable they will be with being professional and mature. If we don’t educate students about online etiquette, that is where we run into trouble. The only way that we can get through this tragedy that happens with cyberbullying is to learn from it and not let it happen again. When bullying occurs, students are asked to help each other or find a trusted adult to help. Also, with cyberbullying, we ask the same thing. Parents, students and school staff all need to be educated and active in helping students. To the parents: Please be aware of what your student is doing online. Please talk to them about spreading rumors or tagging others and commenting on others’ posts. Please talk to them about spreading information, especially information that is untrue or hurtful to others. Talk to them about impersonating others and sending angry messages or flaming. Please remind your student that posting positive and uplifting messages is a great thing to do and that there is always someone behind a post. Don’t let your student get caught up in what is happening online and forget about social norms and appropriateness (deindividuation).
To the students: Please be kind. Your words are not only hurtful in real life but also through an electronic device. Please treat others like you would like to be treated. If you or someone you know/don’t know is being cyberbullied, please tell a trusted adult. There are peers and adults that truly love you and want what’s best for you. People can’t help if they don’t know it’s going on.
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AuthorI am a believer, wife, mother, teacher, student, life long learner and a huge believer in positivity! Archives
July 2020
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