Students are more connected electronically than ever and we are trying to adapt as quickly as possible to this world. Below are some interesting definitions that can help guide a conversation with your student about their electronic world. Also, despite what your student might tell you, you have the right to access their electronic forums and email accounts.
BULLYING/ HARASSMENT
Bullying is anti-social behavior defined as offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious or insulting conduct that undermines others’ self-confidence, isolates or excludes others from typical school and social interaction, or causes others to suffer distress and a sense of injustice. Bullying comes in many forms including:
Physical: Pushing, kicking, hitting, including threats to harm another, and taking or damaging others’ property
Verbal: Name-calling, sarcasm, gossiping, spreading rumors and persistent teasing
Emotional: Tormenting, humiliating, ridiculing, ignoring or excluding
Sexual: Unwanted physical contact, comments of an unwelcome sexual nature
Racist: Gestures, taunts, graffiti, physical violence or mocking
Cyber: Harassment, alarm, distress, or humiliation that uses internet related and/or telephone technology. Cyber bullying is especially insidious and cowardly as the bully often remains anonymous and hides his or her identity from those being bullied. Cyber bullying may occur via personal web site, blogs, e-mail, discussion groups, message boards, chat, voice, text or image cell phones.
Common forms of cyber bullying:
Flaming – online fights using electronic messages with angry or vulgar language
Harassment – repeatedly sending nasty, mean, and insulting messages
Denigration – “DISSING” someone on-line. Sending or posting gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships
Impersonation – pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material to get that person in trouble or to damage that person’s reputation or friendships
Outing – Sharing someone’s secrets or embarrassing information or images on-line
Trickery – tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information, then sharing it on-line
Exclusion – intentionally and cruelly excluding someone from an on-line group with the intent of being mean and hurting their feelings
Cyberstalking – repeated, intense harassment and denigration that includes threats or creates intimidation and fear.
Dr. Nancy Willard, Center for Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet
