Cyber BulliesCyber Bullies “Cyber bullying is the use of modern communication

technologies to embarrass, humiliate, threaten, or intimidate an individual in the attempt to gain power and

control over them.” (Glenn R. Stutzky)

Megan Meier was a 13 year old from Missouri who was a 13 year old from Missouri who struck up an online friendship on the popular social struck up an online friendship on the popular social networking site networking site MySpace with a person she believed with a person she believed was a new boy in her hometown. In actuality, the was a new boy in her hometown. In actuality, the “friend” was a group of individuals, including adults, “friend” was a group of individuals, including adults, who were intent on humiliating the poor girl because who were intent on humiliating the poor girl because of a friendship with another child that had gone of a friendship with another child that had gone awry. Megan was very upset when she found out the awry. Megan was very upset when she found out the truth, then later committed suicide once the truth, then later committed suicide once the friendship had terminated. The horrifying case friendship had terminated. The horrifying case stunned the community and caused state stunned the community and caused state government officials to pass some of the harshest government officials to pass some of the harshest cyber bullying laws in the country. in the country.

Nearly 35% of kids have been threatened online and Nearly 35% of kids have been threatened online and almost one in five have had it happen more than once.almost one in five have had it happen more than once.

The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber-The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber-bullying are similar to real-life bullying outcomes, bullying are similar to real-life bullying outcomes, except for the reality that with cyber bullying there is except for the reality that with cyber bullying there is often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the Internet is available all the timeInternet is available all the time

Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber-bullying.and perpetrators of cyber-bullying.

About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of hurtful things to them online. More than four out of ten say it has happened more than once.ten say it has happened more than once.

ActivityActivity Find a Partner and discuss the matter of Cyber Find a Partner and discuss the matter of Cyber bullying bullying

you and your partner come up with three solutions to you and your partner come up with three solutions to the problem and also tell what social responsibility do the problem and also tell what social responsibility do you have if any to report cyber bullying within a short you have if any to report cyber bullying within a short essayessay

Also within this essay tell whether asking people to Also within this essay tell whether asking people to take personal responsibility in policing the matter is take personal responsibility in policing the matter is wrong or if people’s right to freedom of speech is wrong or if people’s right to freedom of speech is being violated when reported against.being violated when reported against.

Is it still wrong if the person’s name is not said but Is it still wrong if the person’s name is not said but everyone still knows who this person is everyone still knows who this person is

After writing the essay I will pass out a After writing the essay I will pass out a worksheet expressing scenarios of friendly worksheet expressing scenarios of friendly joking and cyber bulling it is up to each joking and cyber bulling it is up to each student to identify which is which and tell student to identify which is which and tell what makes the difference. For example, Carla what makes the difference. For example, Carla asked Molly during a face book chat was she asked Molly during a face book chat was she going to the party later. Molly’s response was going to the party later. Molly’s response was of course I am silly goose. Was her behavior of course I am silly goose. Was her behavior friendly joking or cyber bulling? The answer is friendly joking or cyber bulling? The answer is friendly joking because Molly’s words were not friendly joking because Molly’s words were not trying to threaten, intimidate, or humiliate trying to threaten, intimidate, or humiliate Carla Carla