Cyber Bullying Recap

On Saturday I went to Do Space for a workshop on Cyber Bullying. 

It was put on by Common Sense Media.

Here's a recap as to what they talked about, or you can read my post. :)

Bullying is a repeated aggression directed to 1 or more person.

• Physical 
• Verbal
• Relational - Manipulating someone's social standing, or destroying their family

Boys in general are more physical, and girls tend to be more relational. Really either sex can do any of the above.

Cyber bulling is the same thing as bulling, but it's online. 1/3 of 10-18 year olds have had some kind of problem with cyber bulling. The biggest problem is that only 1 in 10 tell a teacher or a parent. They hide it. Many feel like if they tell they are going to make the situation worse.

1. Target - The person being bullied. Offer support to them. You may need to talk to the bullies parents, a teacher, or principle. As a parent talk to your kids even when they are younger about bullying. When or if bullying occurs discuss all steps you as a parent will take to stop the negative behavior. Otherwise it may cause added anxiety for your child.


2. Bully - Acknowledge the problem. Try to get at the core of their feelings. Oftentimes a bully has been bullied themselves, or were only given negative attention as a child.


3. Bystander - Is someone that is around when the bulling takes place. They could be in the friend circle of the target if it's online. Encourage them to keep open communication with you.


4. Upstander - Is a Bystander, but takes their roll and feeds positivity into the situation. They may do this by adding humor to de- escalate the situation, distracting the bully, or standing up for the Target. Encourage your kids to be Upstanders! Work with your kids to instill empathy. 

Signs of a Target getting Bullied:

• Anxious
• Secretive Behavior
• Unusually Defensive
• Change in Behavior
• Spends a lot of time online
• Loss of interest in achievement - such as grades dropping, unwilling to do things they'd normally want to do

What Kids Should be Taught:

• Don't share passwords
• Treat others with respect - Upstander
• Think before you reveal
• Document if they are bullied by taking screen shots, or printing things out

Resource: Common Sense media is free to use. You do not have to have a password to use it.

• Connecting Families
• Digital Glossary - Terms of the tweens and teens that you may not know

There is much more to browse and use on their website. 

Screen Time is the next topic that Common Sense Media is going to tackle. It's next Saturday from 1 -2:30 at Do Space. School aged kids can be brought with you. 

Free - Please register here.