Ways to Prevent or Decrease Cyber Bullying

Hey guys, Xavier here again... 

With technology on the rise, bullying has become much easier not only to participate in, but also to stop or intervene. As with technology, social networking websites have grown over the past few years. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, social networking websites allow us to reveal personal information, as well as beliefs and pictures that can be viewed by both friends and people we do not know. These different networks allow the possibility of cyber bullying to occur much more frequently. 

Cyber bullying is a huge issue right now because of all the technological resources and the social networking websites we have available, both at home and at school. Cyber bullying occurs when a child is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another child using the Internet, interactive and/or digital technology, or mobile phone. Some forms of cyber bullying can include e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms/ bash boards, and text messages. These forms of cyber bullying mentioned above can also happen when kids are alone, and may cause emotional distress when an adult is not around to talk to about it. Below is an example of a typical cyber bullying situation:

Amy was at home on Saturday night with her friend Angela, who came over to watch a movie. When Angela arrived, Amy changed her Facebook status to say: “Watching a movie with my girlfriend.” Erica (Amy and Angela’s) classmate got online and immediately commented on the status, calling Amy a “lesbo.” Erica then proceeded to text her boyfriend and other classmates, letting them know that Amy and Angela were “gay” and dating each other. At school on Monday, everyone was pointing at the two of them and whispering behind their backs. When she got home, Amy had six new posts on her Facebook wall calling her “gay,” a “lesbian,” and other derogatory comments about her sexuality. Her mother called the school to report the incident so the administrators would be aware of what was going on in case it continued. 

Ways to prevent or decrease cyber bullying:

·      Place / keep computer(s) with Internet access in an open, commonly used space.

·      Never give out personal information or passwords, P.I.N. numbers etc. Personal information includes your name, the names of friends or family, your address, phone number, school name. Personal information also includes pictures of yourself and your e-mail address, even when registering a product purchased for your computer (like a game). Passwords are secrets, you should never tell anyone your password except your parents or guardian.

·      Don't believe everything you see or read on the Internet. Just because someone online tells you that they are fifteen doesn't mean they are telling the truth. Even adults can't always tell when a someone pretends to be another person or if a 50 year-old pretends to be a 15 year-old.

·      Use manners. Be polite to others online just as you would off-line. If someone treats you rudely or meanly - do not respond. Online bullies are just like off-line ones – they want to see a reaction (don't give them the satisfaction).

·      Don't send a message to someone else when you are angry. Wait until you have calmed down and had time to think. Do your best to make sure that your messages are calmly and factually written. We say a lot of things when we are angry that we don’t mean or later on regret. It is hard to undo damage that an angry message can cause.

·      Don't open a message from someone you don't know. If in doubt, ask some such as your parents, guardian, or another adult.

·      If it doesn't look or feel right, it probably isn't. Trust your instincts. We often can tell if something is off, so it is important to listen to your instinct and not ignore those feelings. While surfing the Internet, if you find something you don't like and it makes you feel uncomfortable or scares you, turn off the computer and tell an adult.

·      You don't have to be “Always Online.” Turn off, disconnect, unplug, and try actual reality instead of virtual reality. Give yourself a break. Spend time with your family and friends off line, it is often more fun anyway. 

Note: the above statements were referenced from Cyberbullying.org

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info

Day of Silence vs. Day of Dialogue: Is This Really Helping?

Hey guys, Xavier here again...

On April 19, some LGBT students at my school observed the Day of Silence, where gay and lesbian teenagers refuse to speak the entire day to protest the bullying of sexual minority youth. The day before, some religious kids also took part in a similar day called the Day of Dialogue. This day was a bit different, and encouraged students of faith to talk to their LGBT classmates about their views of sexuality and what their faith has to say about it.

Honestly, it was all a bit confusing to me. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda for these days, and none of the students really talked about bullying (especially on the Day of Silence, for obvious reasons). During the Day of Dialogue, one gay student got really upset because a religious student said that "homosexuality is wrong" and that "people aren't born that way." Then, on the Day of Silence, several religious students stayed home to protest, while a few others actually walked out of a school assembly at the end of day.

The assembly, which was supposed to be about bullying prevention, focused more on understanding sexuality and sexual-minority youth, and offended some of the religious students who don't think that being gay is right. They also claimed that the assembly focused too much on sexuality and not enough on bullying, and that many kids are bullied, not just gay and lesbian students. I guess they have a point.

After going through all the drama at school these two days, I am convinced that bullying needs to be a discussion that happens throughout the school year, not just on certain days, for certain kids. A couple of times a year, we have an assembly where a speaker talks about bullying and how bad it is, but the students don't seem to learn how to really stop it. So, if any principals are reading this, make sure to educate students ALL YEAR on bullying, not just one or two days. It doesn't work. In fact, it might cause more harm than good.

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info 

What to do when you are sexually harrassed...

Hey guys, Xavier here again...

Today's bullying post is going to be a very sensitive and serious subject: Sexual harassment. Intimidating another student due to his/her sexual orientation, whether perceived or real, is a form of bullying. It's also bullying when someone enters another student's personal space and violates them in a sexual way. What makes this even more complicated is that it's not just physical, it can be emotional or psychological as well. For example, a football player that constantly says provocative phrases to a cheerleader, can be sexual harassment, if those advances are not welcome. Another example of sexual intimidation can be found in the Acception: Bullying Solutions and Prevention Health Education Curriculum. Take a look below:

Alex’s family recently moved into a very conservative school district with little diversity. He is the only openly gay student in his school and feels like an outsider because of his sexual orientation. One day he is walking down the school hallway when a couple of bullies call him a “fag” and yell at him to “stop acting like a girl” as many of the students laugh. This harassment begins to happen more frequently, and Alex finds himself being singled out because of his sexual identity on a regular basis. How do you speak up to the bullies?

 
A couple of ways you can speak up to the bullies may be:

1. Confront the bullies and ask them, “Why are you doing this?” Try to find out why they are prejudiced against gays, and explain to them that bullying a student because you don’t understand or agree with his or her sexuality isn’t cool. 

2. Offer to walk down the school hall with Alex in between classes and get some of your friends
to join you. There is strength in numbers! If the bullies keep harassing Alex, tell them they are rude and to “Stop It!”  

Remember, there is strength in numbers, so don't try to confront bullies on your own, and don't be afraid to get the assistance of a teacher, an administrator, or another adult to help you!

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info

Spreading Lise or False Rumors

Hey guys, Xavier here again...

It's the winter, and it's cold outside! Recently, I was attending our high school's basketball game on Friday night when I got a text message from a friend. It turns out, there was a rumor going around about two girls in our class. Well, before I tell you more, read about it below and let me know what you think. Is this is bullying?


During the Friday night basketball game, Aisha and Nicole walk into the gym- nasium holding hands. Neither of the girls are lesbians, just close friends who are affection- ate with each other. While they are walking in, Amy, who doesn’t like Aisha, sends a text message to one of her friend’s cell phone: “Aisha’s a lesbo...look, she’s holding hands with her girlfriend!” The text message is then forwarded to several dozen students in the stands, who laugh and point at both of them throughout the game. When Aisha finds out, she is so embarrassed that she and Nicole leave the game early. The following Monday morning, Aisha finds several sexually derogatory comments posted on her locker. 
  
If you said "yes" you are right. Spreading list or false rumors is another form of bullying, and it hurts. The fact that it was done repeatedly, over the course of a few days, is an indication that it crosses the line from teasing into bullying. Additionally, there is sexual harrassment and verbal bullying going on here too, because of the name-calling and targeting of the girls due to their perceived sexual orientation. 

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info

Bullying through intimidation

Hey guys, Xavier here again...

It's a new year, but bullying is still a huge problem in my school. Yesterday, I heard about a student who was singled out because he is gay. Another form of bullying is intimidating or singling out an individual or group due to racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, or other differences. 

To give you an example of what could happen when someone is bullied this way, let's take look in the Acception: Prevention and Solutions Health Education Curriculum.


Alex’s family recently moved into a very conservative school district with little diversity. He is the only openly gay student in his school and feels like an outsider because of his sexual orientation. One day he is walking down the school hallway when a couple of bullies call him a “fag” and yell at him to “stop acting like a girl” as many of the students laugh. This harassment begins to happen more frequently, and Alex finds himself being singled out because of his sexual identity on a regular basis. 

How would you speak up to these bullies? A couple of ways you can speak up to the bullies may be: 
 

1) Confront the bullies and ask them, “Why are you doing this?” Try to find out why they are prejudiced against gays, and explain to them that bullying a student because you don’t understand or agree with his or her sexuality isn’t cool. 

2) Offer to walk down the school hall with Alex in between classes and get some of your friendsto join you. There is strength in numbers! If the bullies keep harassing Alex, tell them they are rude and to “Stop It!"

Remember, there is strength in numbers! If you find yourself being harassed or singled out in this way, make sure to tell someone, such as a friend, a teacher, or your parents. No one should have to be bullied simply for who they are!

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info

Bullying Doesn't Stop During the Holidays

Hey guys, December has been a very busy time for me with the holidays approaching and all, so I'm only going to write one blog this month. 

The issue I'm writing about is an important one, because everyone needs to feel love and accepted by family and friends, especially this time of the year. Unfortunately, "hurting people, hurt people" all the time, and bullying doesn't stop during the holidays. In fact, the holiday season can be an even more lonely time for those who experience social exclusion. 

During the time off of school, friends often get together to shop, see movies, go ice skating, and celebrate together. But when cliques exclude other classmates on purpose in the effort to hurt them, feeling left out can turn into bullying behaviors. Let's look at one example from the Acception: Bullying Prevention and Solutions Health Education Curriculum, to help us understand how social exclusion occurs in schools.

Lisa desperately wants to fit in with the popular cheerleading girls. However, she’s overweight and doesn’t dress very trendy. A few of the cheerleaders sarcastically encourage her to try out for the cheerleading squad, not intending to even consider her. Lisa reluctantly agrees, in the hopes of being accepted. After the tryouts, the cheerleading captains tell Lisa that she will be accepted on the squad only if she steals lunch money from the underclassman for the next month and gives it to the captains. Lisa feels very uncomfortable but is desperate to be accepted, so she agrees. After one month, the captains tell her she was stupid to believe they would allow a “fat thief” on their squad and all laugh at her in front of the entire cheerleading squad. 

Lisa was forced to do things in order to be accepted (a form of bullying), and in the end, was still excluded by the cheerleaders. Can you imagine how humiliated she must have felt? Whether you are a teacher, student, or administrator reading this, make an effort to reach out to someone this season and show them love. Remember, when we accept and appreciate the differences of others, we bring some much needed love into a hurting world. 

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info

Getting the Cold Shoulder

  Hey guys, Xavier here again…

 

So far we have talked about physical bullying and verbal bullying and how damaging they can be. Now we are moving to another form of bullying, social exclusion and isolation.   

Everyone likes to have friends and wants to feel like they belong, but sometimes this create cliques. Cliques are made up of individuals who share similar interests and then exclude others that think, act, or look differently. This type of bullying can affect multiple groups; LGBT students, racial minority students, religious minority students, disabled students, overweight students, etc. 

According to an article by Dr. Rick Nauert on psychcentral.com many times kids who are being excluded or ignored can develop physical symptoms such as mood disorders (depression) which actually leave them feeling cold (it gives a whole new meaning to the saying “giving you the cold shoulder”). It is important to remember that we have the power in us to stop this. By just saying "hi" to someone or including them in a group activity, you can really help someone feel like they belong. 

If all else fails, remember the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

For more information on Acception’s solution-based approach to bullying prevention in the classroom, visit www.Acception.info