Resources
For Victims, Bullies and their Families, schools and educators.
For Victims, Bullies and their Families, schools and educators.
There are always pros and cons to any side of a story and the internet is no different. Although technology has given bullies a new avenue to reach their targets it can also supply victims, bullies and their families with the ammunition needed to fight the cyber bullying virus that is sweeping the world. There are numerous web sites available with valuable information about how to reduce the risk of cyber bullying, why children cyber bully and how families and bystanders can play an important part in cyber bullying. The following web sites were chosen for their reliability and up to date information that can be easily used by bullies, victims, their families or the community in general. They are also majorly Australian websites so any help lines or numbers given to any departments can be used effectively.
The Australian Government in conjunction with the ACMA (2014) has compiled a very useful and informative website called cyber (smart), which supplies a vast range of information for all community members on cyber bullying. The site translates into five languages widely spoken throughout Australia to ensure a broader range of the community is reached (ACMA, 2014). It is a user friendly site that provides links to other sites such as the Australian Government’s Department of communication (2014), ‘The easy guide to socialising online’ which provides information on how internet users can protect themselves and their information when using social networking sites, search engines and online games. The key to reducing cyber bullying lies with knowledge. It is imperative that parents, schools, teachers and the wider community use sites such as cyber smart to learn more about how they can play out their role in the community and make a positive impact on future generations (The Australian institute of family studies, 2014).
The following presentation created by the Australian Government (ACMA, 2014), conveys facts on internet usage and cyber bullying. The clip provides helpful information about early intervention and the importance of good communication networks between adults and children when dealing with cyber bullying.
The following presentation created by the Australian Government (ACMA, 2014), conveys facts on internet usage and cyber bullying. The clip provides helpful information about early intervention and the importance of good communication networks between adults and children when dealing with cyber bullying.
An important resource for both victims and bullies is the Australian ‘Kids help line’. This site is extremely useful for children and adolescents to gain valuable information about cyber bullying. It is a fun site where children can feel safe in a non judgmental environment. It also provides a good communication resource where children can phone a counsellor and speak freely as they remain anonymous. Often children do not want to worry or upset parents or can be concerned that they will lose internet privileges if they reveal they are being cyber bullied or are cyber bullying someone (Kids health, 2014). Providing children with a safe and informative web site where they can gain quality information that will help them deal with cyber bullying and provide them with the tools to deal with bullying situations is a positive step in the right direction in reducing cyber bullying.
International model, author and businesswoman Miranda Kerr is the Ambassador of the national telephone and online counselling service Kids Helpline. Miranda's authentic commitment to health and well being made her an inspirational role model for young people across the nation (Kids help line, 2014). Her role is extremely important in helping to raise community awareness of the Kids Helpline service. Kids Helpline is a free, 24 hour counselling service for young people aged 5-25 years which offers counselling by phone, email and over the web (Kids help line, 2014). Although the service goes above and beyond councelling, facilitating more productive relationships with family and friends, by providing an informative and supportive service to the Australian community. The following clip shows why Miranda chose to take on the role of ambassador for kids help line.
After all the research I have conducted there seems to be very little support for cyber bullies. Although there are online quizzes that can be taken to give a better idea if someone is a bully such as the one found on ‘stop cyber bullying’. Strangely often, people who are victims are also bullies (Stop cyber bullying). By taking a test such as the one above children or adolescents will be able to identify if they have cyber bully tendencies. If the results confirm they can or have bullied they will be able to reach out for help from either their family, school or even a site such as the Kids help line. Most kids would be shocked to be accused of cyber bullying, insisting instead that what happens between them and their peers online is all in fun, not serious, and never intended to hurt (Committee for children, 2013).
Schools and educators play an important role when it comes to ensuring future generations are well prepared to deal with situations they may come across when using the internet. The above clip demonstrates how educators may approach cyber bullying within the classroom environment. Although this website is an American site it still provides excellent resources which can be used by educators in classrooms worldwide. There are many sites such as the 'common sense media' site which provides resources for all age groups including early childhood, middle and high school. The 'Cyber smart' web site also has some great resources including pdfs of posters, bookmarks and wall paper that can be used to enhance lessons. The type of resources available on these sites are aimed at drawing the attention of the children and includes fun ways of encouraging children to think about the consequences of cyber bullying and provides strategies so they have the tools to reduce cyber bullying. Furthermore the resources help explain and demonstrate to children that what they may have thought was acceptable behavior is actually cyber bullying.