Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a serious issue and all children need to be educated about it. Bullies believe if they use offensive language online it is o.k. because they are anonymous and many feel they cannot get caught. There are many forms of cyberbullying including cyber stalking, flaming, denigration and masquerading.

Why do kids bully? Kids bully to get a reaction, to impress other kids, or to feel powerful. I believe also that some kids bully in order to try and avoid becoming victims themselves. It's the attitude of "do it to them before they do it to me".

I believe all students need to be educated about cyberbullying and ways to avoid becoming a victim. I found a good website called iSafe with the mission of educating and empowering students to make their internet experiences safe and responsible. Educators and parents can use websites like this to inform and educate children about this issue.

Due to the increase in cyberbullying, some police departments have "cyber detectives" whose job is to track down cyberbullies. The detective on the video stated that victims should try to keep a file with the incriminating evidence in it along with the URL and username. Kids need to tell their parents or a trusted adult if they are ever victims of cyberbullying.

The National Crime Prevention Council has posted ways to prevent cyberbullying crimes, comprehensive crime prevention action plans, as well as ways of getting the community involved. As with most issues, education and awareness are the first steps in addressing this issue.