Digital Citizenship
Cyber-Bullying and Digital Etiquette
For Teachers:
Cyber-Bullying
What is Cyber-Bullying?
"Student Welfare, Freedom From Bullying"
“Bullying" means engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:
- Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property;
- Is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment for a student.
- Exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct.
Essentially, Cyber-bullying is using the internet or other electronic media to intimidate, threaten, harass, hold power over, or otherwise bully another person. The anonymity of the internet makes Cyber-Bullying a more prevalent threat. It's easier, and the effects seem (to the bully) to be less-obvious, though to the bullied, the effects are the same, or worse, especially when combined with the social and "connected" aspects of online life.
Discuss
What are the long-term consequences of cyber-bullying?
How to stop Cyber-Bullying
Civility
Mitch Horowitz, the author of One Simple Idea: How Positive Thinking Reshaped Modern Life, said:
"It’s not that human nature has changed; we have simply become more transparent. The advent of digital communication has allowed us to engage in consequence-free hostility — when facial reactions and emotional responses are placed at a remove. Hostile messaging, abrupt e-mails, and caustic online posts and reviews have normalized an uglier and less empathic side of human behavior — and colored our politics and entertainment as well."
Whether in person, or online, our communication should be spoken/written with kindness, and also serve a purpose. Don't post when you're angry, and always consider how your audience will read your message. If you are using a service with a screen name instead of your real name, do NOT hide behind that anonymity. And NEVER, ever share your, or someone else's, private information. The internet is full of "stranger danger".
Make the choice to be civil... and help others to make the right choice as well.
Posting Pictures
There are many cases where people have shared a picture online, of themselves, or of someone else, that cause irreparable damage to one's reputation.
Always use your best judgement when posting a picture. If someone else is in the picture, ask their permission before sharing it. Don't tag your friends in a picture, and if you are tagged without your permission, remove the tag. Finally, follow the guidelines in the poster below to make sure your photo is appropriate:
Myself, or someone I know, is being bullied (online or off)... What do I do?
Reporting Violations
While flagging is the most popular and fastest way to report violations in videos on YouTube, it’s not the only way. In particular, YouTube realizes that for certain categories of content like hate speech, impersonation and harassment, users may wish to report content other than videos. They suggest that users utilize this tool for issues like hate speech and harassment that can sometimes be more complex than other violations.
Examples of content to report via the Safety and Abuse Tool
User has a YouTube channel and they use this channel to leave multiple comments across YouTube that harass or bully another person.
User sets up a channel and chooses a name, image and channel description that are all racist
User makes inappropriate comments about minors
- User channel is impersonating another channel e.g. similar name, profile information, background image and videos.
Much more information about the YouTube Safety and Abuse Tool is provided here.
Be sure to look for similar tools on other Social Media and websites! They're there to protect you!
Let's Put an END to Cyber-Bullying
Lesson Plans
Screen out the Mean (K-2)
Students learn that kids sometimes can act like bullies when they are online. They explore what cyberbullying means and what they can do when they encounter it.
Group Think (3-5)
Students learn that people their age sometimes think and behave differently in groups than they would if each person was alone. They are introduced to the idea of being an "upstander" in order to keep their communities positive.
Digital Passport Game (2-5)
These web-based games engage students in independent learning, zeroing in on critical skills related to digital safety, respect, and community.
Coming Soon
Privacy
Privacy Settings
Coming Soon:
Digital Footprints
"Friends" and Followers
Copyright
Building a Positive Footprint
Preparing for the Future
Wrap-up
Curriculum Resources