Cyber Bullying Statistics

With the always-connected generation, e-mail, instant messages, message boards, weblogs, websites, and cell phones give bullies a high-tech way to tease and threaten. Cyber bullying is no less severe than traditional playground bullying and, in many instances, more psychologically harmful, with effects of longer duration. There is no escape. Cyber bullies are able to invade every facet of their victims; existence. It can be a 24/7 operation, permeating even the privacy of a bedroom.

During the 2003-2004 school year, i-SAFE America surveyed students from across the country about Cyber Bullying, and this is what they had to say: 

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Cyber Bullying Tips for Student

• Tell a trusted adult about the bullying, and keep telling until the adult takes action.
• Don’t open or read messages by cyber bullies.
• Tell your school if it is school related. Schools have a bullying solution in place.
• Don’t erase the messages – they may be needed to take action.
• Protect yourself – never agree to meet with the person or with anyone you meet online.
• If bullied through chat or instant messaging, the "bully" can often be blocked.
• If you are threatened with harm, inform the local police.

Above all, students are the cure to the cyber bullying epidemic. By speaking out and telling adults they can stop bullying online and make the Internet experience a more positive one.

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
• Nasty instant messaging session
• Repeated notes sent to the cell phone
• A website set up to mock others
• "Borrowing" someone’s computer and pretending to be them while posting a message
• Forwarding supposedly private messages, pictures, or video to others.

Prevention Techniques: Avoiding Bullies Online

• 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 even reveal your password to your friends. They might reveal it our 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.
• Delete messages from people you don’t know, or those from people who seem angry or mean.
• When something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Get out of the site, chat, etc.
• Realize that online conversations are not private. Others can copy, print, and share what you say or any pictures you send. Be careful!