Tragic bullying cases like Phoebe Prince’s story have prompted public schools to review their responsibility in preventing bullying, both on and off-campus. With the rise of social networking, cyberbullying has become a real threat, and schools are scrambling to manage the ramifications of 2.0 bullying.
According to the , cyberbullying can be defined as, "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices." The First Amendment Center cites statistics that show one-third of teens on the Internet have experienced harassment online. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dub electronic aggression as an "emerging adolescent health issue."
This video from the PACER Center offers resources for students and teachers.
Clearly, there is no doubt that cyberbullying has become a major problem in recent years, but the question then becomes: what should public schools do about it? It does not appear to be a question with an easy answer if one considers the differing responses to the problem by public schools and the government.
On one hand, when cyberbullying affects a child's educational experience, the schools have a responsibility to put a stop to the behavior. On the other hand, much of the cyberbullying that occurs takes place outside of school, leaving schools helpless in monitoring such activity. Then, there is the first amendment guarantee of free speech. Where do we draw the line?
This video looks at how cyberbullying affects students.
The Unique Concern over Cyberbullying
Bullies have been in existence as long as public schools, so why is there a specific concern over online bullying tactics? Some of the unique features of cyberbullying include:
- Widespread harassment, as online bullying can reach a much larger audience
- Harassment follows a student home on websites like Facebook and MySpace
- Bullies are emboldened due to the perceived sense of anonymity that allows them to speak even more cruelly and encourages others to get in on the harassment
- Uncertainty from parents and schools over how to address the issue
The unique nature of cyberbullying has led many school districts and local governments to come together with parents and students in search of the best solutions to the problem. However, answers don't come easy with no preformed path to use as a model.
A Growing Problem
Despite the uncertainty over how to address the problem of cyberbullying, the issue isn't showing signs of going away on its own. In fact, cyberbullying appears to be on the increase in many districts today. A report in the states that schools and local officials in the area are receiving more calls by parents and students with complaints about bullying tactics. A similar report on says that school officials in the city have been receiving several cyberbullying complaints.
In addition to the growing numbers of cyberbullying complaints, the intensity of the behavior may be on the rise. Some students have transferred schools after the bullying simply became too widespread to deal with any longer. There have even been reports of student suicides that have been linked to various bullying tactics, including cyberbullying. Recently published research by the found that students who were victims of cyberbullying were almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide, compared to those who had not experienced cyberbullying.
This video offers strategies for educators in dealing with cyberbullying.