Understanding The Wired Child’s

World

74% of kids have Internet access in 3 or more places besides home

• School• Friend’s home• Public places–Coffee shop– Library

• Cell phonesSource: NCMEC Online Victimization Study: Five Years Later 2006

Cyberbullying

Use of the Internet or cell phone to send hurtful messages of post information to damage someone’s reputation and friendships.

Dangerous Liaisons

• CBullying = rapidly growing, maybe more widespread and more harmful than ‘conventional’ bullying.– Rate Quadrupled in 5 Years (6% to 20/42%)

• Even more difficult to detect than ‘conventional’• When 3rd parties get involved, it escalates quickly

and can be very dangerous.

Girls are twice as likely to be victims AND perpetrators.

• 62% say that they have been cyber bullied by another student at school.

• 46% say they have been cyber bullied by a friend.

• 55% say they do not know who had cyber bullied them.

Kowalski, et al. 2005 (APA)

The Players

• Vigilante• Power Hungry• Bent on Revenge• Mean Girls• Inadvertent Cyberbullying

Let Me Count the Ways…• Exclusion• Cyber gossip• Forwarding private emails• Stealing someone’s password and posing as

that person• Posting personal/defamatory info on social

networking site or public website

Social Networking

• Can be a great way to connect with friends• Can ruin a child’s reputation • Can affect a child’s employment or

acceptance into school • Can be ripe grounds for Cyberbullying

Social Networking Sites

• 61% of 13-17 year-olds have a personal profile on a social networking site• 50% of those kids have pictures of

themselves posted online

Cell Phones

• Share and Post Digital Photographs/Videos• Internet Access• Text Messaging• “Sexting”

“Sexting” Isn’t Sexy…

•Rarely kept ‘private’

•Rapidly changing relationships

•Distrib./Possession of Child Porn

Most victims of Cyberbullying do not tell their parents!!

–Only 20% tell

–Nearly ½ would tell a friend

–Most fear that adults will only make the

problem worse

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids 2006

Why don’t kids speak up?

Fear of Repercussions:• Getting in trouble• Losing Internet privileges• Embarrassing• Making the situation worse• Being characterized as a “snitch”

Let’s Talk!!!

• Discussion opportunities are a MUST! – Make the time

• 70% of kids are bystanders.• Encourage those children to report concerns.– Create opportunities

• REPORTING MUST BECOME THE NORM!!!

Are there laws to protect us from Cyberbullying?

• Senate Bill 818 Effective 8/28/2008–Requires schools to have written policy to

report harassment and stalking to law enforcement–This includes electronic communication.

–Penalties• Felony – 4/$5K• Misdemeanor – 1/$1K

A School’s Challenge

• Most harmful incidents happen while off campus.– Because this is where they have much greater

unsupervised use.

• Harmful impact is being felt at school– Because this is where students are physically

together

Balancing Act

• Authority– Legal right to impose formal discipline or

restrictions• Responsibility– Legal obligation to exercise reasonable

precautions and to respond to reports of concerns

Legal Threshold

• School officials have the authority to impose discipline for harm caused by off campus online speech ONLY when that speech has, or a reasonable person would anticipate it will:– Cause an impact at school– That is substantial (not just annoying)– Interferes with the rights of a student or students to

be secure and/or receive an education– Or is a “True Threat”

Where We Stand Now…

• Courts are not clear on standards for on v. off campus speech.

– No real ‘test’ to date involving student v. student off campus + substantial disruption

• ‘TBD’

Unknowns…

• Schools Civil Rights Liability– Can’t control off campus activity– Can control if a student is at school

• Parental Liability– Minors who engage in intentional wrongdoing can

be held $ responsible • PDD’s & Review/Access by staff– Can’t ban, but can regulate if on campus• Subject to discipline code of school

Strategies to Consider…• No Moral Authority Off-Campus• If Staff is the Target• Investigate Possible On Campus• Get to the Bottom• Document, Document, Document!!!• No Excessive Discipline• Not Just Discipline

What’s Missing?: Let’s Talk…• Cell Usage

– Vibrate or OFF?– No specifics for Personal Digital Devices in policy

• Harassment Definition– “Electronics” is not included as means of delivery– Only covers on campus or school sponsored events

• Guidelines for behavior– Classroom? “All of the time”; School sponsored; All of campus

• Policy on use of school Internet system– Is there a technology agreement?

• Policy on off campus behavior

Adults Need to Know:

• More of the language/technology• Their responsibilities– Supervision– Liability– Advocacy

• That kids want to be a part of meaningful conversation and positive change.

• How to listen & not over react

Our kids need to know…

• With Freedom comes Responsibility• Cyberbullying and any type of mistreatment are

unacceptable.– CB, Sexting - Illegal

• How to recognize it, not participate and report it.• How to reach out to others for help if needed.• To take a stand against it.

Thank You!Lisa Bell, MA Executive DirectorBuddies Not Bullies636.239.6787lisabell1701@sbcglobal.net

positiveproblemsolving@portalscorporation.orgwww.portalscorporation.org

References and Resources

• Margaret Ross, – Kamaron Institute

• Kimberly Mason, Ph.D.-– NCC Cleveland University

• Parry Aftab, Esq., – Wired Kids

• Anti-Bullying Network• www.cafeaspira.com• www.privacyrights.org• KidsBeSafeOnline• HRSA – SAMSHA• 72 MO.L.Rev.125

– Missouri Law Review 2007

• Office of Brian Nieves– Missouri House Research Dept.

Nancy Willard, MS, JD 2007www.csriu.orghttp://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.govhttp://www.fbi.gov/publicationshttp://nces.ed.govhttp://senate.mo.uswww.webwisekids.orgwww.netsmartz.orgwww.ikeepsafe.orgwww.INOBTR.orgwww.icacmo.orgwww.cybertipline.comwww.projectsafechildhood.govwww.getkidssafe.com