ACTIVITY 1

CYBERBULLYING

BACKGROUND

Cyberbullying is the use of online technology, such as computers and mobile phones, to bully a person or group. Bullying is repeated behaviour by an individual or group with the intent to harm another person or group.
Young people can cyberbully each other in many ways. Sending hurtful texts or abusive emails, excluding individuals from online conversations, imitating someone online, posting inappropriate images and trolling are some of the ways people can cyberbully each other.
Cyberbullying can happen to anyone and typically involves a person who perpetrates the bullying behaviour against a target – the person being bullied. In some instances there may also be bystanders involved – people who witness someone being cyberbullied. A positive bystander is someone who offers support to the target and does not ignore or participate in the bullying behaviour, such as forwarding on humiliating images.
Cyberbullying is serious because it can be relentless and occur 24 hours a day, extending well beyond school grounds and into ‘safe’ spaces, such as in homes. Its effects can be damaging, making a person feel isolated, friendless, miserable and insecure.
It is important to empower younger internet users with the knowledge of how to act responsibly and with resilience online, and equip them with the tools to know how to deal with cyberbullying behaviour. It is also crucial to demonstrate how others can be affected by their interactions online and what language and actions are considered appropriate in the online environment.

WORKSHEET I : Self-Care Action Plan

Name: ____________________________________________________
1. How do I recognise when I’m experiencing sad or difficult times online? What does that look like for me?
2. Who are some of the people I trust to support me?
3. Who can I talk to about difficulties with my friends?
4. What kinds of activities bring me comfort and let me feel like I’m myself again?
5. What are some of the things I enjoy doing offline and outside of my normal friendship group?

WORKSHEET II: Cyberbullying Multiple Choice

Name: ____________________________________________________
1. Cyberbullying is:
a. Using online technology to deliberately and repeatedly bully someone.
b. Using online technology to make someone feel miserable.
c. Using online technology to make someone feel isolated and friendless.
d. All of the above.
2. The types of people who are cyberbullied are:
a. Trouble makers.
b. Popular and outgoing.
c. Shy and sensitive.
d. Anyone can be cyberbullied.
3. Cyberbullying is considered to be:
a. Not that serious – everyone gets bullied at school.
b. Very serious – it makes people feel unsafe at home as well as at school.
c. Fairly serious – but only because there is always evidence.
d. Who wants to be serious? I only go online for fun.
4. If I am being bullied on a social networking site I can:
a. Ask my friends to help me retaliate.
b. Try to forget it’s happening.
c. Use that site’s report function.
d. Never go online again.
5. A cyberbully is usually:
a. Big, mean, and obviously a bully.
b. Sneaky, anonymous, and will never be found out.
c. A very bad person.
6. Ways to try to stop cyberbullying include:
a. Not replying to hurtful messages or posts.
b. Reporting the bullying behaviour to someone who can help, like a parent or teacher.
c. Asking a parent or teacher to help you block the person who is being mean to you.
d. Saving evidence of unwanted messages which can be used by a trusted adult or the police to help stop the cyberbullying behaviour.
e. All of the above.
7. Talking to a trusted adult about cyberbullying is:
a. A good idea. There’s no reason to suffer alone.
b. Not worth it because it will make the person who is doing the bullying angrier.
c. Never a good idea, it can only make things worse.
d. A waste of time because they don’t understand.
8. In a cyberbullying situation, a bystander is a person who:
a. Does not ignore what they see happening to someone else.
b. Asks the person who is the target of the bullying behaviour if they are OK.
c. Reports the behaviour to someone who can help, like a trusted adult.
d. All of the above.

ANYONE, INCLUDING MY FRIENDS OR I, IF WE AREN’T CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE TREAT OTHERS ONLINE. ANSWER KEY AND NOTES FOR TEACHERS:

QUESTIONS

1. Cyberbullying is:

2. The types of people who are cyberbullied are:

3. Cyberbullying is considered to be:

4. If I am being bullied on a social networking site I can:

5. A cyberbully is usually:

6. Ways to try to stop cyberbullying include:

7. Talking to a trusted adult about cyberbullying is:

8. In a cyberbullying situation, a positive bystander is a person who:

This work is based on materials that constitute copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia and is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 2.5 Australia Licence. See http://cybersmart.acma.gov.au/About Cybersmart/Legal.aspx for more information.

	Created by patricia sierra about 8 years ago

POSITIVE COMUNICATION