facebookcyberbullyingCyberbullying

What is cyberbullying? It is the act of using Internet and digital (include mobile) technologies to upset or humiliate another. Unfortunately many people engage in cyberbullying without realising the seriousness or consequences of their action.

It is really important that schools, youth and other similar organisations understand how cyberbullying happens, and act on reports of these incidents promptly. All school and youth anti-bullying policies should be updated to include guidance on cyberbullying.

It is also important that schools, youth and other similar organisations educate young people on safe use of social network, chat and gaming websites and services, discussing issues like etiquette online, rights and responsibilities, personal information, reputation, laws, privacy, and data protection. They should also be supporting and empowering staff and young people by having clear and meaningful guidance on appropriate use of these technologies and services.

WISE KIDS offers training and consultancy, presentations and workshops to support schools and other organisations, so do get in contact if you feel we can help.

Resources to tackle Cyberbullying

Childnet’s new Cyberbullying guidance and toolkit. Also their video below.

Also their Digizen site with Cyberbullying Guidance: http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullguidance

Resources from the UK Anti-bullying Alliance
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information

The Diana Award Enable Project and Resources
https://www.antibullyingpro.com/enable-anti-bullying-resources/

Young, Migrant and Welsh Teaching Resource from EYST
http://ymw.eyst.org.uk/resources.php

BeingMe Teaching Resources from Kidscape
https://www.kidscape.org.uk/beingme

EU Bully Project
http://eubully.eu/reports-resources 

Childline’s Anti-Bullying Resource http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/Bullying.aspx

Bullying UK http://www.bullying.co.uk

Ryan Halligan’s Story: http://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org

WISE KIDS Advice for Schools Tackling Cyberbullying

Some key points to consider:

  1. Conduct a needs analysis to inform cyberbullying policy and programme – get young people and staff involved.
  2. Have a clear strategy and classroom guidance to tackle cyberbullying.
  3. Update anti-bullying policies to include cyberbullying.
  4. Get up to date with new technologies and young people’s use of these. Conduct appropriate training for staff (and parents/young people?). Also use these sessions to explore issues of ‘online safety, trust and responsibility’, ‘net etiquette’ and ‘digital literacy’.
  5. Discuss and communicate cyberbullying issues with young people.
  6. Implement and publicise a clear system of reporting – e.g. anonymous reporting/ reporting directly to service providers/ reporting to the school council.
  7. Work with authorities and service providers.

WISE KIDS Advice for Young People

  1. Watch what personal information you share online.
  2. Never share passwords, not even with best friends.
  3. Always log off after using any online service like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp, and use a pin lock on your smart devices.
  4. Don’t respond to bullies, no matter how tempting.
  5. Don’t forward messages oabuse- you could be breaking the law.
  6. Keep all records of bullying – for example, this could be a screen shot of a Facebook  conversation or Twitter stream, an email or text message. This can be used by the police, ISP or mobile phone company both as evidence of harassment, and to trace bullies if they attempt to be anonymous.
  7. Think before you upload pictures onto a website, or send pictures of someone via email, mobile phone, chat, messenger or social networking sites.
  8. The online world is a real world, so be responsible in your online actions, and treat others as you want them to treat you.

Other Resources

Welsh Government Guidance on Bullying and Cyberbullying: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/publications/circulars/antibullying/?lang=en

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/wellbeing/antibullying/are-you-being-bullied/?lang=en

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/parents/is-your-child-being-bullied/?skip=1&lang=en

Taflenni gwybodaeth Canllawiau Gwrth-Fwlio a phosteri yn cynnig cyngor i rieni, gofalwyr a phlant ar beth i’w wneud os yw plentyn yn cael ei fwlio.

http:/wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/wellbeing/antibullying/are-you-being-bullied/?skip=1&lang=cy

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/parents/is-your-child-being-bullied/?skip=1&lang=cy

Tackling Race and Faith targeted – Guidance for Schools bullying: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658737/Supporting_schools_to_tackle_race_and_faith_targeted_bullying.pdf