What is all this about cyberbullying?

So, you may be asking: “What is all this about cyberbullying?”

You may have heard a lot of hype in your schools recently, or maybe have heard a friend talk about it happening to them.

Here’s the lowdown on cyberbullying:

Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies (like the Internet on computers and cellphones) to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others.

OR

Cyberbullying is when a young person (you know, children, preteens, teenagers) is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another young person using the Internet or mobile phones.

It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying comes in two forms:

1. Direct attacks (messages sent to you or your friends directly) and
2. Cyberbullying by proxy (using others to help cyberbully the victim, either with or without the sidekick’s knowledge). Because cyberbullying by proxy often gets adults involved in the harassment, it is much more dangerous.

For more information about what cyberbullying is, click on the link below to go to a great site.

It’s a really cool site that’s simple to navigate and has information for kids of all ages…because you need information that’s just right for you.

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html