OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH
Join the movement. Help raise awareness and put an end to all types of bullying.
LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO CYBERBULLYING
Be prepared to deal with cyberbullying in your school
Cyberbullying is difficult to address for several reasons. First, it can happen anytime, anywhere, not just at school. And often, hurtful comments or images are sent anonymously so they are hard to track down and delete. In addition, new technology has only led to new and different forms of cyberbullying, which is why it is on the rise.
That's why it's important that students, parents, teachers and administrators know how to recognize cyberbullying and how to respond to it.
3 WAYS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CYBERBULLYING
Almost 94% of kids ages 11-17 now own a mobile phone. That means cyberbullying can affect any student who is active on social media. Today, 49% of children report that they have been bullied online. The effects of this cyberbullying are long lasting. It can cause students to skip school, it leads to poor grades and it fosters low self-esteem.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent cyberbullying from becoming a more serious issue at your school.
ASSESS CYBERBULLYING IN YOUR SCHOOL
A good way to confront cyberbullying is by taking a two-step approach known as "prepare" and "communicate."
Start by asking yourself these two questions:
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Is your school prepared?
You can easily find out how well your school is dealing with cyberbullying by filling out this Report Card. You'll also want to make sure you're cultivating a positive school climate. Research shows that students who believe their school has a positive environment experience fewer issues online. Here are 10 ways to create a positive climate in your school.
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How are you communicating with students?
When it comes to dealing with cyberbullying, communication is critical. Many schools participate in movements such as National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. The goal of this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative is to have schools and communities work together to increase awareness of cyberbullying and communicate its effects on children.
Another good way to promote communication is to simply start a dialogue with students. Try sharing ideas and real-life stories.
Another way to get students talking is to share the cyberbullying Tips for Teens fact sheet. Sometimes all a student needs is an invitation to talk. These options help invite conversation and open the lines of communication.
GET PARENTS INVOLVED
It's important to know what kids are doing online. Just as parents establish rules for their kids at home and in public, they should establish similar guidelines for their kids in the cyber world.
Likewise, kids need to understand that while it's certainly fine to use their phones and computers, it's not OK to say mean things or bully other kids online. They also need to know that they should report any bullies they encounter when they're online.
To help set online boundaries for kids, parents can:
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Establish proper "netiquette"
Teach kids that it's never OK to say or share inappropriate information online. This is a good time to explain that they should never give out personal information. They should also try to get in the habit of stopping to think and consider — before they post or text.
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Set parental controls
Both Apple and Android devices include built-in restrictions on their devices. Parents can use these settings to block or limit specific apps or even set time limits on smartphones, computers and tablets.
There are also monitoring apps available for parents. A few of the most popular ones are listed here.
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Create a family contract
This is a formal document that is signed by parents and children. It spells out what is considered a reasonable amount of time to spend on cell phones and the Internet.
It's also critically important for parents to be involved in their children's online activities. Many students have several different social media accounts. Parents should follow or at least be aware of those accounts.
Another excellent resource for parents is Cyberbullying: What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Children. This comprehensive guide from PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center contains a wealth of information on how cyberbullying starts and how to address it.
KNOW HOW TO RESPOND
When cyberbullying does happen, you should know that you are not alone. It can help to talk to other teachers or parents before you respond. Even better, if you can connect with enough people, you can even form a group that takes a stand against cyberbullying.
Regardless of whether you decide to respond in a group or alone, you'll want to:
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Know your state laws
Be familiar with the laws in your state regarding cyberbullying. To find out more about criminal sanctions, school policies and off-campus restrictions in your area, click here.
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Address the situation
When you see evidence of cyberbullying between students, taking certain steps can help you manage the situation. For example, here are the top 10 ways educators should deal with cyberbullying, as recommended by the Cyberbullying Research Center.
If you feel the need to formally report an incident, you can always contact Facebook, Twitter or other specific social platforms directly by using these links. It's also a good idea to keep a record of all students who were involved. If you don't have an Incident Tracking Form already, you can use this one as a template.
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Work with parents, students and law enforcement
When a student is victimized by a cyberbully, you can help parents respond by offering these 10 tips.
Likewise, if a student is targeted at school, there are a number of ways educators can help assist that student. Here are 10 responses teachers can recommend to their students.
Lastly, if cyberbullying persists, despite repeated attempts to stop it, or if the victim feels genuinely threatened, it should be reported to law enforcement or local authorities. Likewise, if students would like to talk about their experiences with professional crisis counselors, they can find the contact information they need here.
NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is a nationwide campaign founded in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities around the world to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.
During the past 10 years, this campaign has grown from a small, week-long event to a worldwide effort with multiple activities throughout October. National Bullying Prevention Month is supported by hundreds of schools, major corporations and celebrities.
Be a part of this exciting anniversary and spread the message:
The End of Bullying Begins With Me!
National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)
Celebrated every October, this event was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all Americans have the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. Since its inception under leadership from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSAM has grown exponentially, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation. 2016 marks the 13th year of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
When students are victimized online, they may feel sad, lonely and hopeless. But the situation is not always as dire as it seems. If they know there are people they can turn to and steps they can take to help with the situation, they can begin to heal.
Teachers, administrators and parents all have important roles to play, too. As long as they understand what cyberbullying is and how to appropriately respond, there is a chance that one day we can discourage cyberbullying or even prevent it altogether.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT BULLYING PREVENTION BY VISITING THE RESOURCES BELOW
If you have specific questions or need help with bullying prevention, call our Risk Control Consulting and Research Center at (800) 554-2642, ext. 5213, or email riskconsulting@churchmutual.com