Cyberbullying on the Rise: Kids Share Fears

Newswise — Children who bully appear to have found a new platform to intimidate and taunt their peers and preliminary research from the University of Toronto indicates that cyber bullying is becoming more prevalent.

“With more children and youth using the Internet, e-mail, text messaging, social networking sites and webcams, we’re seeing more bullying through these forms of technology,” says Faye Mishna, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work and co-principal investigator of a research initiative on the Cyber Abuse of Children and Youth, funded by Bell Canada. Bell’s support has made it possible for U of T researchers to pursue a number of separate studies that will increase understanding of cyberbullying and all forms of cyberabuse, and help prevent these new forms of victimization.

Mishna led a research team that held focus groups with students between grades 5 and 12 in the Greater Toronto Area. Among the findings was the image of the cyber aggressor hiding behind the anonymity of the keyboard. The students told researchers that they believed the Internet made it easier for kids to bully others by saying hurtful things they might not say in a face-to-face encounter.

The virtual world also allowed bullying to continue after the school day ended, invading the student’s home. The focus group sessions revealed that children and youth do not tell an adult about being cyber bullied because they fear that their computer privileges will be taken away. Participants also felt that since cyber aggressors could not be identified there was no use in telling parents about what was happening.

Based on the findings thus far, Professor Mishna in consultation with Kids Help Phone, says education and communication are two of the most valuable tools that parents have to prevent cyber bullying and to encourage safe use of the Internet and other forms of technology.

To detect cyber bullying parents should look for changes in their child’s behaviour or personality such as:

• becoming withdrawn, agitated, anxious, sad, or depressed
• expressing anger by yelling or bullying others (such as a younger sibling)
• physical complaints such as trouble sleeping, headaches or stomach aches, or a change in eating habits
• loss of interest in social events
• reluctance to attend school when previously this was not an issue
• changes in use of the Internet and other technology

How parents can raise the discussion of cyber bullying with their kids:
• create an atmosphere of open communication and talk regularly about the Internet and technology, rather than waiting to do so when a problem occurs
• encourage your children to come to you with any problems online or with other technologies and listen to what they tell you
• empower your children by reinforcing that kids are not to blame if they are bullied
• emphasize that asking you for help is not a sign of weakness, but is a way of standing up for oneself and sending a message to the person who is bullying that they will not allow this behaviour to continue

The best ways to prevent cyber bullying:
• educate yourself and your children on Internet safety strategies
• educate children about the risks of posting photographs, videos and other personal information, which can be used by peers to cyber bully
• do not discount or minimize what your child tells you or give false reassurance (e.g., “just ignore it,” “don’t take it seriously,” etc.)
• do not react “rashly” in order to protect the child (e.g., removing computer privileges)
• make it clear you will work with your child to find a solution if he or she is being cyber bullied
• monitor kids’ use by keeping the computer in a high-traffic area, using software controls, and staying aware of other locations where kids access the Internet

Mishna emphasized that if a child is being cyber bullied, parents should intervene. If the child is being bullied by a peer at school parents should contact the school principal. If a child is being threatened or harassed online by anyone else parents can contact Cybertip.ca or the police.