http://www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/cyber-bullying.php
What is cyberbullying all about?
People everywhere use new technology to keep in touch with friends, organise social events, share photos and have fun. Mobile phones, emails, web sites, blogs, online games, Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and other networking sites can be a positive and fun tool to learn, express yourself and keep in touch.
Recently it seems there has been more sad news than happy news about technology and how it can be used to hurt other people. You may have heard news reports about the impacts of cyberbullying and you may even have experienced cyberbullying yourself. From what young people are telling us at Kids Helpline, it is an ongoing issue.
Bullying vs other types of conflict
It's important to remember that not all fighting or arguing is bullying. It is normal to have times when you have conflict and arguments with people. So, it is important to learn how to deal with conflict. Bullying is different to having an argument or a fight.
There are four things that can help you identify bullying over a normal argument between friends. Bullying is targeted and persistent behaviour that is intended to:
demean
intimidate
embarrass, or
harass
Bullying also involves:
An imbalance of power - for example a group ganging up on an individual or someone much more confident picking on someone who is less confidentRepeatedly picking on someone over the phone, email, website or online forum (for example, sending messages to the same person over and over)[1]
So, how is ‘cyberbullying’ different to bullying?
Basically, cyberbullying is an extension of bullying that goes on at school but the person doing the bullying uses new technology such as websites, text messages, social networking sites and emails to embarrass, demean, harass, intimidate, or threaten other people.
What young people have been saying to Kids Helpline about cyberbullying
Our counsellors have responded to lots of children and young people who are dealing with a range of different ‘cyberbullying’ related issues. We hear reports of cyberbullying that can range from situations such as arguments between friends that get out of control, to groups of young people deliberately targeting other young people[2].
At Kids Helpline, we recently conducted a survey about cyberbullying to help us understand how this ...
‘I was paranoid that people read what they were saying about me and that people judged me because of...
‘I still feel scared and like I can't trust people like there going to turn on me... it is very hard...
Our survey also asked young people to let us know ‘what advice would you give a friend who is being ...
‘Don't be afraid of telling, it is the best thing you can do!’
‘Don't try and get even’
‘Blocking is your best friend!’
‘Don't take what they say to heart... there will always be people that love and care for you and the...
Why is cyberbullying so hurtful and why do people do it?
It seems like cyberbullying is so hurtful because of the way that people can be bullied in front of all of their friends. They often can't get away from it because the messages come through on their mobile phone, to their email account or to their social networking site like MySpace.
There are lots of reasons that young people bully others. Sometimes it's about trying to become popular, or to intimidate or make someone afraid of them. Sometimes it's a reaction to being bullied themselves or because they are jealous of the person they are bullying.
What can you do if you're being cyber bullied?
The ways to deal with a problem of bullying, whether it's at school or on the internet is always different depending on the situation that you find yourself in. It may also depend on who is doing the bullying and how it started. It is important to keep in mind that dealing with bullying is about finding a solution that works for you. Sometimes it can be really hard to reach out for help or tell someone because you are concerned that people won't understand, know what to do or that it will make the situation worse.
There are important things that can be helpful to remember if you are being cyber bullied:
It is NOT your fault
There is help available (teachers, parents and counsellors can all be helpful people to talk with about your situation)
You can block the bullies from sending you messages or emails or stay off line for a while
You can get help from the police and take legal action if needed
It can help to keep copies of abusive messages that are sent to you because they can be used later as evidence
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