What is it?

• Definition created by Daniel Olweus in 1990s1

• Bullying involves– Repeated negative actions– By one or more aggressors– That physically harm or exclude– a person who is seen as less powerful

than the aggressor(s)

Types of cyberbullying2

• Flaming – verbal abuse• Harassment – repeatedly sending hateful or

threatening messages to another• Denigration – distributing information that would

damage a person’s credibility or relationships• Impersonation – using someone else’s persona to

harm that person or their relationships with others• Outing – sharing private information without the

person’s permission• Trickery – talking someone into revealing secrets then

sharing it.• Exclusion – deliberate and cruel removal of a person

from a social sphere• Cyberstalking – repeated threatening harassment that

causes fear in the stalked person

Who does it effect?

• In a survey given in 2011, 16% or students in grades 9-12 state that they experience cyberbullying.3

• Students who are bullied are perceived as less powerful than those around them.4

• This included people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered (LGBT); persons with disabilities, and those who are otherwise socially isolated.4

Examples

• Please take a moment to look through these examples of cyberbullying. We will be referring back to them in the discussion questions.– The day I confronted my troll– Reddit

Users Attempt to Shame Sikh Woman, Get Righteously Schooled

– Internet troll jailed after mocking deaths of teenagers

– CBS' WKBT News Anchor Responds to Viewer Email Calling Her Fat

Resources for Combating Cyberbullying

Legislation5

• The first legislation was made in 1999, after the Columbine shootings.

• 46 states have laws on bullying. 41 of which have created a model policy for schools. (see Virginia’s DOE policy)

• 36 states prohibit cyberbullying.• The majority of laws require

reporting, investigation, and punishment to accompany the event. Laws also require training and prevention methods be utilized.

For teachers and students• Self help organizations such

as It Gets Better which is for GLBT youth.

• Educating adults Includes an extensive training course for bus drivers which can be adapted for a wider audience.

• Educating students Created by MTV to help students identify and stop cyberbullying.

• See more resources on stopbullying.gov

Discussion Questions

• Much of the legislation on bullying is centered around students and schools. Should legislation take a wider view of the issue and include all ages?

• Would you consider the examples given in this presentation bullying? Why (not)?

• Is cyberbullying just people moving to new media, or is it something inherent in the technology itself?

Citations1. Hamburger ME, Basile KC, Vivolo AM. (2011). Measuring Bullying

Victimization, Perpetration, and Bystander Experiences: A Compendium of Assessment Tools. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/BullyCompendium-a.pdf 10/24/2012

2. Virginia Department of Education. (2008). Cyberbullying and School Policy. Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/technology/info_briefs/cyberbullying.pdf

3. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. “What is it” Stopbullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/index.html

4. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. “Risk Factors” Stopbullying.gov. Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/factors/index.html

5. Stuart-Cassel, V., Bell, A., and Springer, J.F. (2011). Analysis of State Bullying Laws and Policies. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/bullying/state-bullying-laws/state-bullying-laws.pdf

6. Troll image adapted from Benimoto. (2007). “The ‘Feral Troll’”. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/benimoto/1186476322/