Cyberbullying - Just Say NO
When thinking of defining cyberbullying, I reflect on the recent conversations I have with my 3rd Grade students and listen to how we collectively define cyberbullying, especially after experiencing remote learning this past year. My students are around the ages of eight and nine but seem to have a deeper understanding of the meaning than I anticipated they would. As a group, we concluded that cyberbullying can be defined as being mean behind a screen. Cyberbullying can be done by posting rude, mean, or inappropriate things about others behind their back. I was surprised because after talking about it, I learned that about half of my students have their own devices, and about half have devices that they have to share amongst their family at home. We use technology pretty regularly in the classroom, but they are not on apps or sites that would be open to different situations. As a class, we are pretty open and continue to discuss internet safety, and I always remind them to ask permission before doing anything on not only their devices at school but to follow the same procedures at home.
According to Hinduja and Patchin (2015), "Cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices." Cyberbullying has no specific target. Cyberbullying can happen to anyone, at any time, and anywhere. Many students are not fully aware of the effects that cyberbullying can have on others. Not only students and families, but faculty and staff must become fully aware of all of the signs of cyberbullying. This could include consequences and, more importantly, a variety of strategies that could be used to report cyberbullying and improve and encourage overall behavior throughout the process.
As educators, we need to get to the forefront of this issue. Instead of reacting, we need to act instead of reacting to this issue and find ways to implement tactics to help act on this issue. Cyberbullying needs to be brought up in conversation, to where if it is happening to a student, they feel comfortable discussing and reporting the issue. In order for students to be made more aware of the issues and consequences, it can all start with conversations. According to Hinduja and Patchin (2015), "Students should be exposed to cyberbullying prevention strategies through signage at school, assemblies with speakers, the dissemination of related documents and resources, and curricular enhancements that discuss unacceptable use of computer and communication devices." Students need to fully understand their repercussions when it comes to these intolerable actions.
To continue emphasizing the importance of a good digital citizen's traits, students need to be continuously reminded of what is appropriate and acceptable to post and share when working in the online world to ensure that they are keeping themselves and others safe. Getting students, families, and stakeholders all involved in this process can be extremely beneficial as well. It is imperative to start teaching proper digital usage and an excellent digital citizen's qualities at a young age to help foster a strong foundation to help put an end to cyberbullying.
References:
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2015). Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Resources:
- A ThinLine website: https://www.athinline.org/
- Cyberbullying Research Center website: https://cyberbullying.org/
- NoBullying Website: https://nobullying.com/
- Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center Website: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp