Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices ( Hinduja, Patchin pg 1). This refers to cases in which adolescents and sometimes even adults use technologies to humiliate, hurt or damage a person’s feelings or reputation. Technology is normally used for a resource to either look up or inform people of information. Cyberbullies abuse technology to spread rumors about their peers or even communicate harmful words to them in the public eye. Cyberbullying can affect students in a number of different ways. Because cyberbullying is mostly displayed to a number of people and causes humiliation and sometimes depression for the victim. It can cause low self-esteem for victims and even depression, sometimes resulting in the student becoming withdrawn and distracted from school work. Also, teaching students to use technology may be unknowingly teaching them how to use the technologies to cyberbully. Also, if teachers give the students time to engage in online activities, they may use that time and internet access to cyberbully their peers. Therefore, during online activities students need to be closely monitored to ensure they are using the technologies appropriately. As a teacher something I may do to protect my students from cyberbullying, is set up a technology contract. This contract would have to be signed by both the student and their parents. It would address all uses of technology including cell phones, computers and the internet. The contract would outline appropriate uses of technology and inappropriate. The contract would also have the consequences for inappropriate technology use (cyberbullying being one of them). Having the parents sign the contract will inform them of the possible consequences their child may face if using technology inappropriately as well as keep them aware of the possibilities of them abusing technology, so hopefully they will monitor their children at home as well. Also, in the beginning of the year I could teach a mini-lesson on what bullying is, the affects bullying has and what to do if you are bullied; I would include cyberbullying in this lesson as well so that the students know what it is. If I encountered a case of cyberbullying in my classroom, I would have to revoke technologies privileges from the student who was abusing technology, for the rest of the school year. That student would receive alternate activities to participate in that did not involve the technologies that the other students would have privileges to use. I would also call the parent of the cyberbully to inform them of their students actions; as well as ask them to monitor their child’s technology at home to prevent further bullying.

Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. (n.d.). Cyberbullying identification, prevention and response. Cyberbullying Research Center,