Cyber Bullying - Is This Happening in Your House?

Has your child been harassed at school or at the playground? Have they come home and told you that someone called them a vulgar name? Have they been bullied, made fun of, or been the target of physical or mental abuse? Unfortunately these issues are no longer limited to schools, playgrounds, and other gathering areas of children-it's now occurring on the Internet and the impact is receiving national attention.

This growing problem for children and teenagers on the Internet is called cyber bullying. The tradition of home as a refuge from bullies on the school playground is over. The Internet is the new playground, and there are no off hours. The popularity of instant messaging, e-mail, Web pages, and blogging means children are a target 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A recent i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students ranging from fourth to eighth grade produced the following alarming statistics:

• 58% of children admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online.
• 53% of children admit having said something mean or hurtful to another online.
• 42% of children have been bullied while online.
• 58% of children have not told their parents or any adult about something mean or hurtful that happened online.

Cyber Bullying: Breaking It Down
Cyber Bullying is verbal harassment that occurs during online activities.
Cyber Bullying can take many forms. These are a few:

• A threatening e-mail
• A nasty instant messaging session
• Repeated notes sent to a cell phone
• A Web site set up to mock others
• “Borrowing” someone’s IM login and pretending to be them while posting a message
• Forwarding supposedly private messages, pictures or videos to others

For Parents:

• You have taken an important stride in protecting your home by installing Bsafe filtering software-this can be your first defense in filtering hateful content.

• The new Bsafe Online filter version 5.0 should be available in late December 2006. Version 5.0 will offer parents the opportunity to filter IM conversations, create allow lists for IM screen names, and also send any unknown messenger a warning: “"You are being monitored by Bsafe”."

• Consider having a common area where computers are used in the home instead of allowing them in children’s private rooms.

• Communicate often with your child/teen regarding their online friends, chats, and Internet experiences.

• Review the reports offered by Bsafe Online that display websites visited, frequency, and other essential information regarding Internet usage.

For Children:

• Don’t give out private information such as passwords, Pins, name, address, phone number, school name or family and friends’ names. This information can be used by bullies and other harmful people on the Internet. Don’t reveal your password to your friends. They might reveal it or use it against you in a fight.

• Don’t exchange pictures or give out e-mail addresses to people you meet on the Internet. Ask permission from parents when it is necessary to give such information.

• Don’t send a message when you are angry-it’s hard to undo things that are said in anger.

• Don’t accept messages from people you don’t know. If you receive an angry message (from anyone) don’t respond, and let your parents know immediately.

• When something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Acknowledge your instinct and get out of the site or chat.

• Realize that online conversations are not private. Others can copy, print, and share what you say or the pictures you send. Be careful!

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 2006 Bsafe Online, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Bsafe Online is an Epic Secure Solutions, Inc. company.