Cyber bullying

Topics Definition of cyber technology and usage Positives of cyber technology Risks associated with its use or misuse Cyber bullying – definition and forms Myths of cyber bullying How serious is it? The implications for parents Strategies/solutions/supports

Cyber technology is Digital form of communication

Examples of cyber technology

emails

webcams

Mobile calls

Sending messagesThru mobiles Computer

Use

Chat rooms

Use of mobile phones to take pictures..

..and send them on….

Cyber use in Australia -examples Australia is global leader in SMS -500 million SMS

message each month compared to 1 million in 2000 (Lee, 2005)

Approx 12% of children age 6-9yrs use text messaging once /day; 49% age 10-14 yrs and 80% of 15-17 yrs (Giles 2004)

46% of 14 yr olds, 55% of 15 yr olds, 73% 16 yr olds have own mobile phone (Davidson 2004)

What do we know about it? Incredible growth (example: ABS 2006 report - HUIT survey

showed rate of internet access in homes across Australia jumped from 16% in 1998 to 64% in 2006/07)

Continuing to grow Moving ahead of what we can keep up with Many forms Various levels of understanding in the world Our young people know it better than us It is young people’s preferred medium for

communication

Digital technology is a critical part of our world Your children are using it as a standard

form of communication and in education Regardless of your own knowledge Regardless of your own use Its world wide and spans all age groups

Digital technology is a critical part of our world Used in schools for

educational purposes

Used in Tafes, universities

They are located in libraries, cafes, airplanes

In our children’s future workplaces

Positives & Wonders Information and learning

- Search for any information from home (biggest library in the world in your home)

- Immediate access to international information/events- Material for homework and projects- Various forms of entertainment- Job searching & educational opportunities - (24/7)

Create and Design/Art music

More Positives and Wonders

Programming skills Social - instant and wider connection with

people (anywhere in the world)• friends/ family/children• phone from anywhere (low cost) • speak on web cam• send instant photos of memories and events

(24/7)

More Positives and Wonders

Thrill of watching our children learn things we didn’t have

Thrill of watching them learn

Fun and leisure

Use of digital technology is not

withoutrisks

Exposure to Inappropriate and Harmful Content

Such as Pornography

Easily available on the Net - Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) study: 14million pornographic websites across the world – some carrying pornographic images of children (Wellard 2001)

Promotes a demeaning view of women & men Is addictive Can be used to sexualise young children

Children games sites – known to have inappropriate games hidden within the site or links to inappropriate sites

Unsafe Contacts or inappropriate contacts Predators in chat rooms/stalking/online grooming –

pretending to be someone else or not pretending (WA last week – man charged with grooming a 12 year old girl for sex over the internet)

People know when you online – so invasion of privacy and easy access

Cyber sex – yes they do do this

Exposure or engagement with inappropriate discussions/language

Racist/sexist/homophobic material//hate based text

Small extreme groups use the web for this purpose. Some pose as churches, or other “acceptable” groups. Some target children.

Exposure to other offensive material in the form of photos, videos, or text of this nature

Links that take us to homophobic sites or racist cites

Inaccurate information

Fake sites URL mimickers eg www.microdoft.com - known

to be done by using a word that young children commonly misspell to have the child enter their site

Historical revisionist material Inaccurate health information – a real problem

Invasion of privacy

Often advertising is masked as content on a site

Subtle request for information (games, auctions competitions etc)

Collection of information is a net marketers dream

Information going out may relate to other members of the family or the family address, phone, parents income, movements etc

In opposition to your parenting values

Our children can easily access magazines, clips to films or music on the internet that you may not allow them to normally purchase or view in your home

Young siblings may gain exposure to material

you don’t want them to

Health risks Addiction

Sedentary

Virtual world vs. real world

Loss of communication & other skills

Social isolation or loneliness

Lack of sleep – sms on mobiles at night

Wrongdoing by children could result in serious long term consequences Commonwealth Telecommunications laws

make certain misuse of mobile phones unlawful

Criminal offence eg: child pornography by transmitting certain photos

Expulsion from school Loss of friends/reputation Civil action

And there is also cyber bullying …

What is cyber bullying?

The use of digital and internet communication

for the purpose of creating hostile and

intimidating interactions with a targeted

individual

It occurs with misuse of internet and mobile

phones

Netalert defines it as: Bullying which is carried out through an

internet service such as email, discussion groups, chat rooms, or instant messaging.

It may also include bullying through mobile phone technologies such as short messaging services (SMS)

Examples of types of cyber bullying Bullying and intimidating comments in an email, in a chat

room, by SMS Sending threats or threatening/disturbing pictures Sending mobile camera photo of humiliating picture to one or

many people k/a “happy slapping” Sending multiple SMS – 200 in a day of abuse Sending multiple emails of abuse Inviting others to write bullying things about you in a chat

room Setting up a hate site about a child Isolating communication with a person by sms or chatroom

(ignoring them)

How serious a problem is it? Research shows alarming numbers and

frequency of cyber bullying across all ages

Dr Martyn Wild recently reported… “1 in 3 children under 15 yrs have experience some form of cyber bullying Given 99% of children begin to use the internet by age 5 or 6 these figures are pretty

high”

Julie Inman Grant, Microsoft Asia Pacific’s Director for Internet Safety and Security reports in July 2008 on survey they released (Galaxy Research)

¼ of Australian children report they have been cyber bullied Chance of being cyber bullied increases into your teens – 31% children age 14-17

yrs compared to 21% among 10-13 yr olds

Regular media coverage or real life and close to home stories

Police report extremely regular and increasing issues eg: Senior Constable McClean, Victoria….

(quoted in April 07)

- 2.5 yrs ago started seeing problems in this area. Since than an expulsion

- Targeting younger children receiving reports re 8– 18 yr olds (2 yrs ago was 13-17yr olds)

- Every week receive a report of naked or semi naked girl or having sex being posted on the internet .

Critical differences between cyber bullying and bullying Its Anonymity makes it difficult to detect Anonymity of sender makes it easier for people to bully who would not

otherwise do so Its easier to hide – often secretive Continual – goes out to others and caused damage even when ones

computer or mobile is turned off Visual impact – seeing it again, and again and again This is an open channel of communication – can go from being a safe

mode to a risky mode at any time. It extends bullying out of playgrounds and parks to our homes 24 hours a

day, 7 days a week The impact is instant – its there as soon as computer or mobile is turned on Less control – once its out there its gone. Difficult to remove content on the

net. Reputation is damaged

Other differences Generational gap- Difficult for parents and teachers to understand as

didn’t experience it as this- Lack of knowledge of IT/techno by parents - Hard for parents to monitor (a lot happens at night

when asleep)- Its moving at a faster rate than our

research/understanding and safety measures

Examples of language IHU - I hate you ILU - I love you IMP - I might be pregnant  IWALY - I will always love you KIT - keep in touch LOL - laughing out loud MYOB - mind your own business F/F - face to face F2F - face to face FTF - face to face G2B - going to bed PPL - people SH - so hot ASL - age, sex, location :9  Licking lips. M)  See no evil. :X)  Hear no evil. :)  The happy smiley face. :(  The sad face.

”latest research to come out of Australia and particularly in UK has found that parents are the missing piece in the cyber safety puzzle” (Dr Martyn Wilde)

Myths If we ban it there will be no risk It’s a normal part of adolescents The one-off guest lecture for parents will fix the

risk problem We had no problems until computer technology and

mobile phones became so popular Its character building It won’t happen to my child My child will tell me we have an open relationship

(hopefully they will but they may not)

FACTSYoung people hold more power than any other

group in terms of their capacity to influence other young people

Recent research shows that teenagers are less likely to tell their parents (tell a friend or teacher

first) if it occurs because of fear parents will remove their access to mobile/computers

What are the implications for

Parents?

Consider these:

Risks of: Harm and damage to your child now and long term reputation if a victim (it is likely to

occur or have occurred to your child Long term consequences for your child if they misuse the technology – criminal record or

other Our children being exposed to this in their adult life also – prepare them better for this

Parents have a responsibility to: Teach our children how to use things safely and responsibly Accept we have a significant role in educating our children about safe and responsible

use of cyber technology Ensure safe practices with cyber technology within the home (or outside to some extent) Learn our children preferred method of communication Take preventative measures to reduce risks Find out where to get support and help from if needed Become informed about what the school, government and local community has in place

Take responsibility Predominantly the problem is cultural – damage is borne out

of a culture that permits or condones (directly or indirectly) Understand that young people are the most powerful source

of influence on other young people Inaction can be as damaging as the behavior itself Value the proper use of the technology – mentor this Everyone has a right to feel safe

(UN Declaration on the rights of young people - 1984; National Safe Schools Website, other)

Strategies and Supports

2 Main Principles

1) Parents are primary educators in safety and values for their children – must be proactive in this

2) A Multi facet approach is necessary

The solutions are not rocket science

There are no miracle answers or solutions It’s about using the basic parenting skills

and strategies that work with you know so well

Its about working alongside other stakeholders

Each person taking responsibility makes a difference

Educate yourself

Spend some time learning about cyber tech Get involved with your children’s online activities,

validate their skills and learn from them Get on the internet and mobile phone and learn

how it works. Ask your children to show you Research the resource handout from tonight talk Work with the school on an awareness raising

project with the students leading it

Build a positive culture within the community

let others know that you take it seriously encourage others to be proactive and prepared

to keep children safe in cyber use talk to the school about the subject Talk to each other about it

Be a role model Model appropriate and responsible use of

digital technology (time in front of the computer; circulating photos, emails, SMS etc). eg: Don’t sit at a computer for 12 hrs at night.

Be prepared

Know where to get help and support if you have any concerns

Know where to report any inappropriate material or contact

Know what to do if your child, or another child, discloses - do the following. Use the 2 R’s:

Reassure Report (or seek assistance) to the appropriate

persons/authority Remedy

Implement safe tools now - habitual

Have the computer in a place that you can see it (not hidden away in child’s bedroom)

Choose products with parental controls Have a suitable filter on the computer to stop

inappropriate material or sites Ensure you as the parent has access rights to

your children’s computers and passwords

Set rules for use in your family (social contract – sample in package). Include

Statement of what you value eg: social interaction, Clear rules for amount of use (when, and how long) Clear rules of what you can and cannot do on the internet Have a ‘Netiquette’ – expectations on how they treat

others Let them know you as parent will check the computer Be clear about consequences if they misuse it

(Use language that is consistent with home and school and community)

Bridge the gap

Talk to your children about it. Let them know you value the internet and mobile but you also value social interaction (healthy balance)

Learn Cyber tech language and use it with your children Let your children know you want them to use the tech

safely and responsibly. Ask your child what they did on the net or who they spoke

with today just as you would ask them this about school Ask older children to mentor safe practices with younger

siblings

Make it a permissible topic in your home

Engage in discussion with your children on this – so its not an awkward topic if they need to seek your help. Let them know if they were hurt by cyber misuse you would not take away their use of it

Give them ideas of who else they could go to for help if they needed to and didn’t come to you (give them the kids help contacts)

Talk to them and their friends about it Tell them what your concerns are and ask them for their

ideas and views (and listen to them)

Pick 3 things strategies you will do in the next month …

Put them in your diary Tell someone what you are doing

Marilyn Campbell, Queensland Psych survey results showed:

Of students who admitted to cyber bullying, only 30% said they also bullied in person, whilst 70% said they only ever cyber bullied

(Stereotype of thug and physical strength is no longer relevant)