Cyberbullying Workshop Spreads Awareness

"Cyberbullying" may not be part of every family's vocabulary, but Guidance Counselor Alexis Schoen thinks it should be.

Through newsletters, workshops and the "trickle back" effect, Schoen said she hopes to get the message out to parents that cyberbullying is a real, prevalent issue in children's lives today.

Schoen led a workshop during Council Rock Education Week about cyberbullying Thursday afternoon at Churchville Elementary.

The term is somewhat of a buzzword, but refers to the action of children being "bullied, embarrassed, threatened or harrassed by another child using interactive technologies," according to the presentation.

One in five students admit that they have been a victim of cyberbulling, and 50 percent of teachers polled online felt that it's common for students to receive threatening messages through their cell phones, according to the presentation.

Schoen said there are many reasons that children bully, but some might include boredom, payback, jealousy, role-playing or even miscommunication.

However it happens, cyberbullying can be dealt with in a rational manner. Schoen urged parents to think, not immediately act, when presented with a cyberbullying situation.

She said one of the positive qualities of cyberbullying is that the child has the ability to walk away from the computer screen or put down the phone – an action that isn't as easily replicated when a child is bullied in person.

Signs that a child might be a victim include changes in behavior, long hours spent on the computer, being secretive about online activities and closing the screen when a parent enters the room.

The best way to deal with cyberbullying is to report the instances to the Internet Service Provider or the specific social network's monitor. Facebook's abuse policy has three levels of action to take, depending on the severity of the problem.

It's important to remember that many children are afraid to even report cyberbullying to their parents because they might be barred from the internet or have worse repercussions from the bully. 

The school can only intervene if actions happen on school property, so it makes it difficult for administrators and teachers to help. Also, parents can't notify police unless their children are being seriously threatened.

To learn more, visit WiredSafety.org or Clubophelia.com.