Cyberbullying Awareness Training
Though reports of teens who committed suicide after being cyberbullied have made for dramatic headlines, cyberbullying and its consequences aren't always obvious. The Hazelden Foundation--one of many organizations that promotes cyberbullying awareness--reports in its training material that "not all students perceive cyber bullying as a form of bullying behavior." To solve the problem, those involved--whether children or adults--need to be aware of what the problem is.
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Importance
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Although traditional bullying certainly has negative consequences for its victims and perpetrators, cyberbullying can, in many ways, be even more detrimental, according to the Center for Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet's director, Nancy Willard. She points out that the anonymity of the Internet fosters an environment of increased viciousness because the normal conditions that might trigger a bully's sense of empathy or fear of being caught in face-to-face encounters don't exist. For a variety of reasons--including emotional trauma, fear of retributions and fear that adults will take away their Internet privileges--students may not tell adults when they've been cyberbullied, making it all the more important that adults be aware of the signs.
Providers
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Government, nonprofit and commercial organizations provide cyberbullying awareness training that can be used by schools, parents and students. The Health Resources and Services Administration--a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services--offers a variety of resources for schools and parents through its Stop Bullying Now program. The Center for Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet provides videos, books and handouts on the subject. The National Crime Prevention Council and the Hazelden Foundation also provide professional training to promote cyberbullying awareness among adults and students.
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Liability
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According to Willard, schools and parents also need to be aware of their liability with regard to cyberbullying. Though cyberbullying may not necessarily take place on campus, school districts must be aware of precautions they can take to prevent their Internet resources from being used for cyberbullying purposes. Also, the parents of students who engage in cyberbullying may be subject to civil suits by victims' parents.
Identification
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Not all students are equally susceptible to the negative effects of cyberbullying. Willard points out that "Savvy" teens--who are usually older--will make responsible and informed decisions in their Internet behavior. "Vulnerable" teens may use the Internet irresponsibly during otherwise normal periods of emotional upheaval common to adolescents, or when faced with problems at home. "At-risk" teens suffer from other conditions and risky behaviors, including mental health problems and substance abuse, and are more likely to bring their poor decision-making to their online behavior.
Other Resources
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In addition to increasing their awareness of signs and risk factors associated with cyberbullying, adults can purchase filtering software that will alert them to certain risky behaviors young people might engage in online. Although such software can be a helpful tool, the Health Resources and Services Administration advises parents against relying on it exclusively.
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References
- Photo Credit computer image by blaine stiger from Fotolia.com
