Blog 5 Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying

 After reviewing the material for this week’s topic of cyberbullying and as a new Media Specialist, I do not look forward to addressing cyberbullying with my students but I know it is an important part of my job. I want to make sure I create a welcoming environment so my students will feel safe sharing with me when they feel they are being cyberbullied.  According to Pacer (2023), children cyberbully because of peer pressure, being bullied themselves or they do not realize the true impact their bullying has on others. Bullying has been around for a long time but now it has grown into cyberbullying. It is arguably more difficult growing up in these times of the internet and the ability to connect with others with a negative connotation. We know that kids follow the lead of adults so it is important for all adults to model good online skills. According to Elizabeth Englander, with the Harvard Graduate School of Education (2024), parents and caregivers need to model good behaviors and show children how to live with the internet in a healthy way. Some ways to do that is by unplugging from social media and talking to your children about things they search for and do while using the internet.  

 

Video preview of two girls sitting on a bench outside

According to Stop Bullying.gov (2024), if a teacher suspects a child is being a cyberbully, they should speak with that child privately about it and get the parents involved. Teach students how to use counter-speech so if they see a student getting bullied online, they can have enough confidence to say something to turn the conversation around. By giving students resources that they can use when they are in these situations it will give them power over the cyberbully. 

As teachers and librarians plan their units they could incorporate small mini-lessons on digital citizenship and media literacy so that it is not always taught in isolation. This way the students can see examples of how we use it in our everyday life.   

Schools can use these activities to help students spark positive conversations about social media and internet use amongst students and adults. 

• Media Student Advisory Board – Students feel empowered to come to adults and tell us stuff when they feel their voice is validated.  We need to value their thoughts and feelings by giving students a seat at the table to discuss and bring up issues that affect them regarding cyberbullying and the internet. 

• Skits - Have students come up with skits and role-playing activities where the students can engage with their peers on a cyberbullying subject. This could be done during a pep rally or during homeroom.  This will give the students the chance to confront cyberbullying in a safe space and take action about it.  This can help spark conversations between the students about this problem.  Students will see it affects everyone and not think they are alone. The adults could talk with the students after the skit to see if they have experienced this situation and how they handled it.  Students can make a list of other possible ways to handle the situation in a more positive way.  

• October Cyberbullying Month - The Media club could make posters or sponsor a poster contest where students design anti-cyberbullying posters digitally.  The winning poster could be printed and distributed throughout the school.  Students can give examples of what cyberbullying is and how it looks to spark conversations with the student body. This site has several free cyberbullying hotlines in the United States https://findahelpline.com/countries/us/topics/bullying 

 

Help line for cyberbullying

   

 

References 

Find a Helpline. (2024). Find a helpline. Through Line Limit https://findahelpline.com/countries/us/topics/bullying 

Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2024). Confronting bullying in the cyber age. Harvard University. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/education-now/24/01/confronting-bullying-cyber-age 

Pacer. (2023). Cyberbullying.  Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Pacer Center Inc.  https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/cyberbullying/#:~:text=Children%20cyberbully%20for%20many%20reasons,actions%20can%20have%20on%20others. 

Stop Bullying.gov. (2024). Cyberbullying: Tips for teachers. https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/tips-for-teachers