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 In it’s simplest form, cyber bullying is using technology to intimidate,
harass and upset people.
Just because you stick the word ‘cyber’ in front of it, that doesn’t
mean that it’s any different from the kinds of things we usually think
of when it comes to bullying and for those affected by it, it’s just as
distressing as being picked on in the school yard or anything else that
might take place in an off-line world.
As the name suggests, cyber bullying does take place predominantly on
the web.
These days, anyone can set up a website or a profile on sites like Bebo
and Facebook, and whilst most people who do just want to get on with
things and chat to their mates, some have more hurtful motives for
logging on.
Sites and social networking profiles can be used to set up what could be
described as ‘campaigns of hate’. Sometimes, this by pretending to be
the person they’re bullying to mock and make fun of in a malicious way,
whilst others use their own profiles to leave offensive comments on a
person’s page or send hurtful comments towards them via instant
messaging.
Messages aren’t just restricted to the web, either.
Using mobile phones to send abusive, threatening or offensive text
messages, make prank calls or even spread rumours is also classed as
cyber bullying, and as our article ‘Non-Predictive Text’ shows, they can
be just as hurtful as if they were done on the street.
As technology continues to develop, bullies will find more ways to get
to their victims but, thankfully, as awareness of cyber bullying grows
with such technological advances, more is being done to put a stop to
it.
 Like Cybermentors for example. The site, featured in the Spring 2009
edition of The LINC magazine, connects young people being cyber bullied
with other young people their own age known as Cyber Mentors. Through
instant messaging, videos and e-mail, these Cyber Mentors provide help,
support and advice to young victims of cyber bullying and the site has
become increasingly popular thanks to a star-studded line-up of
supporters from retired boxing champion, Joe Calzaghe to hip hop group,
N-Dubz and many more in between.
CyberMentors is a great step in helping to combat cyber bullying, but
there are more steps you can take if you are being cyber bullied, just
see our Top Tips box to the right to find out what they are.
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Top Tips for
Beating Cyber Bullies |
- Block it! Most social
networking sites allow you to block people you don't want
any contact with. It's the same with your mobile phone.
- Report it!. You should
find that using social networking sites or mobiles to harass
or intimidate others is a violation of almost every Terms of
Service going. Report the bullying as soon as you can.
- Save it. It might be
upsetting to keep nasty messages saved, but by doing so
you've got proof should anyone claim you're making it up.
- Tell someone. It doesn't
have to be a parent, teacher or tutor. It could just as
easily be a friend you really trust and who you can talk to
about it. Talking about things is always the best way to get
stuff off your chest and get problems sorted.
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