Hurting someone with a simple click
Spreading rumors and bullying is nothing new. Kids have always found ways to be cruel to one another. But today’s kids are dealing with something much more sinister: cyberbullying. Kids are now using their cell phones and computers to hurt, humiliate, and harass each other. And it’s reaching epidemic proportions. They’re not just receiving nasty comments, but also getting demeaning text messages, embarrassing photos, and snide opinion polls. This type of bullying is especially disturbing because it is constant, pervasive, and very, very public.
Some facts
The most commonly experienced form of cyber-bullying is when someone takes a private email, IM, or text message and forwards it to someone else or posts the communication publicly.
- 38% of girls online report being bullied, compared with 26% of online boys.
- Nearly 4 in 10 social network users (39%) have been cyberbullied, compared with 22% of online teens who do not use social networks (all from Pew, 2007).
Additional material on cyberbullying can be found on this website.
The Gateway Regional School District also has a Facebook and Social Media Policy, that guides on-line interactions between staff and students.