CYBERBULLYING
Be an upstander!
What is Cyberbullying?
"Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology." The act of harassing someone online by sending or posting mean messages. Cyberbullying is the use of digital media tools, such as the Internet and cell phones, to deliberately humiliate and harass others, oftentimes repeatedly.
Cyberbullying can take a variety of forms, such as harassing someone, impersonating someone, spreading rumors, or forwarding embarrassing information about a person. A bully’s mean-spirited comments can spread widely through instant messaging (IM), phone texting, and by posts on social networking sites.
HOW TO BE AN UPSTANDER
- Bystander: someone who sees cyberbullying happening, but does nothing to help
- Upstander: someone who helps when they see cyberbullying occur
- Empathize: to imagine the feelings that someone else is experiencing
Know that cyberbullying is as harmful as face-to-face bullying. Online harassment spreads rapidly and participating in cyberbullying can be active or passive.
To be an upstander,
- De-escalate when possible. If you have good standing with the offender and are comfortable, politely tell the offender to back off.
- Point out the offender’s motivation to the target. Comfort the target by explaining that many offenders act this way in order to gain control, power, or status.
- Tell the target you’re there for them. Just by offering a helping hand, you let a target know he or she is not alone and that you’re not okay with what’s happening.
- Help the target. Help the target find friends and school leaders who can help de-escalate the situation.
references: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyberbullying, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/classroom_curriculum/6-12-familytip-cyberbullying.pdf and www.stopbullying.gov Cyber Bullying
Ideas for Speading Kindness:
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Booker T. Washington
1. Smile at a stranger
2. Put change in an expired parking meter
3. Send someone a hand-written card
4. Hold a door open for someone
5. Volunteer virtually for a few minutes or hours
6. Give a friendly wave to a neighbor
7. Do a simple, free, quick kindness for a charity
8. Tell a friend you appreciate them
9. Plant a tree
10. Walk instead of driving and absorb the wonders around you
11. Teach a group in your community about something unique you do or enjoy
12. Collect books to give to a school or shelter
13. Drop off dinner or groceries to an elderly friend who can’t get out much
14. Start an affinity group to share a hobby with others
15. Mentor someone, a child or an adult
16. Create a blog for someone who loves writing but isn’t technical
17. Help someone get set up with social media
18. Call your family just to say hello and find out what they’re doing
19. Invite a friend you haven’t seen in a while to the movies or coffee