What is cyber bullying?

Many people think bullying simply takes place in schools or among peer groups, but even strangers can bully your child - and all in the comfort of their own home. Cyber bullying is a fast growing bullying phenomenon, and can affect absolutely anyone.

According the Anti-Bullying Alliance (Goldsmith College, University of London):

‘Cyber bullying is an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself.' 

What are the forms of cyber bullying?

Research commissioned by the Anti-bullying alliance indicates that there are seven categories of cyber bullying to be wary of:

• Text message bullying - bullies reach their victims by sending them unpleasant and unwelcome text messages
• Picture/Video clip bullying via mobile phones - bullies make embarrassing films or images of the victims and send them to friends. Another form of bullying, ‘Happy slapping', involves filming physical abuse and sharing it with friends
• Phone call bullying via mobile phones - usually involves prank calls from disguised or hidden numbers, or simply stealing the victim's phone and making calls or messages to other people, pretending to be the phone owner
• Email bullying - similar to bullying via text messaging, the victim will usually receive unwelcome emails from bullies pretending to be someone else
• Chat room bullying - not unlike the type of thing you get in the playground, bullies will respond abusively or encourage others to turn on the victim in a web-based chat room
• Instant message bullying - again, a form of web-based bullying where children and young people are sent unpleasant messages as they conduct real-time conversations online
• Bullying via websites - this can include abusive web logs (blogs), whole websites dedicated to embarrassing the victim, as well as online personal polling sites. Social networking sites have also increased the scope for cyberbullying.

A faceless bully

Those who take part in online bullying often use a group of friends to target their victims by asking them to add a comment to a photo on a blog, or asking them to forward it onto another group of friends. Sometimes, these people don't even realise they're actually bullying someone and get caught up in cyber bullying simply by not thinking about the consequences of what they are doing.

However the impact on the lives of young people can be considerable and in some cases tragic. Unlike the type of bullying that goes on in the street or at school, escaping cyber bullying can be very difficult - messages can be sent 24 hours a day, everyday of the week, anonymously. So it can even be tough for those on the receiving end to avoid it in the safety of their own home.

Deal with it

The Anti-Bullying Alliance (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk) has these top tips for dealing with cyber bullying:

·         Keep evidence of cyberbullying by saving messages and MSN conversations.

 

·         Don’t reply - Never retaliate or reply if you’ve been sent a nasty message. Block the bully and report it to an adult you can trust.

 

·         Report it - Most websites and mobile phone operators have a place where you can report abuse.

 

·         Always respect others - Be careful what you say and what you send. Messages and images can be made public and could stay online forever.

 

·         Protect your online accounts and your mobile phone with a password – and don’t share it with anyone!

 

·         Tell someone - Tell a teacher or an adult you can trust; call ChildLine on 0800 1111, or go to www.cybermentors.org.uk