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What is Cyberbullying?
- Cyberbullying is when one person or a group of people aim to threaten, tease or embarrass someone else by using a mobile telephone, the internet or other technologies.
What forms can it take?
E Mail
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Sending e mails that can be threatening or upsetting. E mails can be sent directly to a single target, or to a group of people to encourage them to become part of the bullying. These messages or “hate mails” can include examples of racism, sexism and other types of prejudice. If someone sends you a message and you forward or laugh at it, you’re actually adding to the problem.
Did you know that:
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74% - Three quarters of teens did not go to anyone for advice last time they were bullied.
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13% - One in eight young people say cyberbullying is worse than physical bullying.
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11% - One in 10 UK teens have experienced cyberbullying.
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34% - Girls are twice as likely as boys to know someone who has been cyberbullied, over a third (34%) compared to boys (17%).
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48% - Half of parents are unaware of the phenomenon of cyberbullying.
Instant messenger and chatrooms
- Sending instant messenger and chatroom messages to friends or direct to a victim. Others can be invited into the bullying conversation, who then become part of it by laughing.
Social networking sites
- Setting up profiles on social networking sites to make fun of someone. By visiting these pages or contributing to them, you become part of the problem and add to the feelings of unhappiness felt by the victim.
Mobile phone
Sending humiliating and abusive text or video messages, as well as photo messages and phone calls over a mobile phone. This includes anonymous text messages over short distances using bluetooth technology and sharing videos of physical attacks on individuals (happy slapping)
Interactive gaming
- Games consoles allow players to chat online with anyone they find themselves matched with in a multi-player game. Sometimes cyber bullies abuse other players and use threats. They can also lock victims out of games, spread false rumours about someone or hack into someone’s account.
Sending viruses
- Some people send viruses or hacking programs to another person that can destroy their computers or delete personal information from their hard drive.
Abusing personal information
- Many victims of cyberbullying have complained that they have seen personal photos, e mails or blog postings posted where others could it without their permission.
- Social networking sites make it a lot easier for web users to get hold of personal information and photos of people. They can also get hold of someone else’s messaging accounts and chat to people pretending to be the victim.
The effects of cyberbullying
Even though cyberbullying cannot physically hurt you, it can still leave you feeling mentally vulnerable and very upset. You can also feel scared, lonely and stressed and that there’s no way out.
Escaping cyberbullying can be very difficult. Because anyone can get access to a mobile phone or the internet almost anywhere, it can even be tough for those on the receiving end to avoid it, even in the safety of their own home.
Further information resources about bullying can be found at:
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Last Updated ( Monday, 03 January 2011 )
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