Cyber Bullying affects lives

What is Cyber Bullying?

Cyber bullying is literally bullying but rather than the face to face antics used in the playground cyber bullies use the many devices that connect to the internet or "cyberspace" to taunt their victims. Mobile phones, gaming devices such as X-Box, Playstation and Wii, computers, laptops and even internet ready TVs are all readily available 24/7.

With bullying there is an escape, children can remove themselves physically from their tormentors and take refuge in a safe place. With the internet being readily available cyber bullying can take place anytime or anyplace, even in the privacy of their own home.

Why is Cyber Bullying so bad?

Cyber Bullying is actually a criminal offence.  The constant and extreme nature of some incidents has led to suicide. For most victims the embarrassment leads to depression which can then cause withdrawal from their normal society.

Often seen as an anonymous form of mental torture the size and scale of the internet allows the cyber bullying to spread quickly. A cyber bully can easily persuade others to get involved if they don't see the harm they are causing and they think they can remain anonymous.

Meet Joe.  Joe will show you how cyber bullying can be destructive.

The above video belongs to Childnet International http://www.childnet-int.org/

Turning it off is not the answer

A parents answer to the problem on most occasions that they know about it is to tell the child to turn off their mobile phone or to stay off the computer. A quick and easy fix maybe? Most parents don't understand that those items act as a social lifeline to the children who organise their social lives through those mediums. A third of those who experience cyberbullying don't say anything about it. In order to break that silence it is important not to punish the child for being cyber bullied by taking away their things but to educate the parents, teachers and children to understand the problem and the technology. A parent who gets involved in the social networks on computers and takes an interest in the child's virtual life is much more likely to build that trust relationship that is so needed if things go wrong. Remember cyberbullying is a criminal offence, if you know it's happening then talk to someone who can do something about it.