Bullies in Cyberspace

Posted Monday, October 18, 2010

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Bullying has gone from name calling on the play ground to slander and hostility in a published form. Cyberbullying is like having a gigantic megaphone; bullies can spread vitriol quickly and anonymously. Parents, school administrators, and even law enforcement are all concerned about it as legal cases and even teen suicides have brought awareness. Monday on The Sound of Ideas, cyberbullying, why it's gotten so bad, how exactly it crosses the line, and what can be done about it. Join us at 9:00 a.m. on 90.3.

Guests

Susan Borison, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Your Teen Magazine
Lisa Damour, Child Clinical Psychologist & Co-Director, The Center for Research on Girls at Laurel School
Frankie Goldberg, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office & Director, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
David Frattare, Lead Investigator, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Additional Information

WVIZ/PBS ideastream will be offering a variety of professional development for district faculty and staff on the topic of cyberbullying and Internet safety including a face to face workshop December 4. Please visit the WVIZ Education page for more details.

Helpful websites and information on cyberbullying:

Advice on Cyberbullying, Your Teen Magazine

stopcyberbullying.org

Protecting Kids from Cyberbullying
What is cyberbullying? What can parents do to protect their children?

In the Mix: CyberBullying
Information on how to deal with cyberbullying.

On Guard Online
Provides tips from the federal government regarding Internet safety.

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
From the Federal Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against Children Program

Cyberbulling Research Center
An information clearinghouse on cyberbullying.

Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
Cyberbullying resources.

Speak Out Ohio.gov
Ohio Cyber Safety resources.

90.3 WCPN: Tackling Bullies Head On
Report on bullying and what can be done about it.

Please follow our community discussion rules when composing your comments.

Jay 9:50 AM 10/18/10

STOP ANONYMITY

My understanding about the early days of the Internet is that it was intended to not allow for anonymity. Somehow the requirement to identify the user was lost when the Internet was made available to the masses.

Do any of your guests know if there are efforts to eliminate anonymity on the Internet? Doing so is a first critical step towards reducing bullying of all kinds on the Internet as people will think twice about posting something ill spirited if their true identity were permanently attached to it.

As for kids and their unawareness of how their actions on the web today might follow through life, it really might force parents to pay more attention to the consequences of their child’s bad behavior if they knew that their true identity would have to be exposed with every post.

Thank you.

Jay