[Cyber Bullying]
Janet Kornblum
USA TODAY
Ricky Alatorre doesn't know which classmate surreptitiously hoisted a cellphone camera and snapped his picture or exactly when it happened.
All Ricky, 16, knows is the fuzzy yet distinguishable portrait of him in English class showed up on MySpace, on a page that claimed to be his. And the fake profile, titled "The Rictionary," not only identified his school but also said Ricky loved dictionaries — a swipe at his school smarts — and was gay (he's not), one of the most common schoolyard taunts.
Tall, big and bookish, Ricky, who lives on a farm in Lake County, Ind., had been picked on since he was in kindergarten.
Insults flung in the heat of anger always inflict some pain. But words — and pictures — posted on the Internet, where they can be seen by anyone, have taken bullying to a whole new level.
"I was completely devastated," Ricky says.
[USA TODAY]
[SOUND WAYS FOR PARENTS TO MEET THE BULLY HEAD-ON]
If you're a parent worried that your child could be cyberbullied, experts say you should follow the basic steps. Most important, talk to your child. Make sure he or she is observing online safety rules, such as never giving out personal information.
A child who's being bullied may exhibit signs such as withdrawing, lethargy, depression, extreme change in behavior and frequent illnesses, says Jodee Blanco, a school consultant and author of two books on bullying.
If the problem is affecting a child in school, talk to the principal, says Nancy Willard, cyberbullying expert and author of Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats. School administrators should deal with each instance on a case-by-case basis. Not all experts agree on the perfect remedy.
Punishment is usually appropriate, but some say if not meted out carefully, it can result in the bully taking more revenge on the victim.
But experts do agree that the worst thing to do is to ignore it.
Cyberspace may seem like an abstract concept to older adults, but to kids who have grown up socially networking, it's an integral and important part of their lives.
By the same token, experts also agree that banishing a victim from websites, computers and cellphones is like banishing them from their world. Plus, it doesn't work.
Corinne David-Ferdon, health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests teaming up, online and offline, with other parents who can offer help and suggestions. And if cyberbullying persists, consult experts.
Online advice and help:
bullycide.org
bullypolice.org/StopOrRemoveCyberInfo.pdf
saferschools.com
cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/electronic_aggression.htm
cyberbully.org
Janet Kornblum
USA TODAY
Ricky Alatorre doesn't know which classmate surreptitiously hoisted a cellphone camera and snapped his picture or exactly when it happened.
All Ricky, 16, knows is the fuzzy yet distinguishable portrait of him in English class showed up on MySpace, on a page that claimed to be his. And the fake profile, titled "The Rictionary," not only identified his school but also said Ricky loved dictionaries — a swipe at his school smarts — and was gay (he's not), one of the most common schoolyard taunts.
Tall, big and bookish, Ricky, who lives on a farm in Lake County, Ind., had been picked on since he was in kindergarten.
Insults flung in the heat of anger always inflict some pain. But words — and pictures — posted on the Internet, where they can be seen by anyone, have taken bullying to a whole new level.
"I was completely devastated," Ricky says.
[USA TODAY]
[SOUND WAYS FOR PARENTS TO MEET THE BULLY HEAD-ON]
If you're a parent worried that your child could be cyberbullied, experts say you should follow the basic steps. Most important, talk to your child. Make sure he or she is observing online safety rules, such as never giving out personal information.
A child who's being bullied may exhibit signs such as withdrawing, lethargy, depression, extreme change in behavior and frequent illnesses, says Jodee Blanco, a school consultant and author of two books on bullying.
If the problem is affecting a child in school, talk to the principal, says Nancy Willard, cyberbullying expert and author of Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats. School administrators should deal with each instance on a case-by-case basis. Not all experts agree on the perfect remedy.
Punishment is usually appropriate, but some say if not meted out carefully, it can result in the bully taking more revenge on the victim.
But experts do agree that the worst thing to do is to ignore it.
Cyberspace may seem like an abstract concept to older adults, but to kids who have grown up socially networking, it's an integral and important part of their lives.
By the same token, experts also agree that banishing a victim from websites, computers and cellphones is like banishing them from their world. Plus, it doesn't work.
Corinne David-Ferdon, health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests teaming up, online and offline, with other parents who can offer help and suggestions. And if cyberbullying persists, consult experts.
Online advice and help:
bullycide.org
bullypolice.org/StopOrRemoveCyberInfo.pdf
saferschools.com
cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/electronic_aggression.htm
cyberbully.org
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