Cyberbullying: How Much Do We Know and Are We Protecting Our Kids?

With most of our nation’s youth plugged in and online, it’s become incumbent upon parents and teachers to be more involved and more educated about internet safety. Learning how to navigate the social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Flickr -- as well as monitoring text messages and other media coming through on cellphones and smartphones -- is paramount to keeping kids safe while online.

Earlier this week, State Attorney General, Doug Gansler (@DougGansler) held a Community forum, on “Protecting Our Kids: Facebook 101 and Beyond” The more adults become educated about social media and technology they will have the ability to advise their children on how to respond to cruel messages - either witnessed or targeted directly at them. Last month, the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights hosted a “Bullying in Our Schools Symposium” with students on the panel talking about the years of bullying and the lack of action they endured at school. The office has a list of resources on the topic.

Sadly, it’s also become apparent that there are some youth who are misusing social media and cell phone technology to bully and harass others, and even to incite violence. A recent study shows that approximately 15% of young people have experienced cyberbullying in their lifetimes.  The study indicates that about 20% of teens have themselves targeted and bullied someone either online or by text message. Nearly 90% have seen or heard of a friend who bullied others.  For some of these youth, this can lead to more destructive behavior.

We have all seen the impact of bullying.  Difficulty making friends, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, poor academic achievement, truancy, and suicide are all associated with being bullied.  In addition to these risk factors, the targets of cyberbullying may be subject to even more distress due to the pervasive and invasive nature of modern communication.  Because cyberbullying messages can be circulated instantly -- and are usually irrevocable --cyberbullying is ubiquitous and there is no refuge for the target. Victimization can be relentless.  

Cyberbullying is often anonymous and can spread rapidly as countless and unknown others join.  When there is a lack of involvement and oversight of youth online activity, it can lend itself to the already strong social norms among youth against disclosure of online behavior.

It begs the question about what is happening in society that these types of behaviors continue to happen, often so relentlessly. What are the adults missing? How can we be more involved, more effective and, ultimately, more helpful to our children?

Let’s not wait for something devastating to happen. Let’s work on this now, together. 

Jeanne H. Ellinport

www.JeanneEllinport.org

Gaithersburg