The American Academy of Pediatrics calls cyberbullying the “most common online risk for all teens.” Parents need to know the facts about cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about or to another person.
Types of Bullying Online:
Gossip: Posting or sending cruel gossip to damage a person’s reputation and relationships with friends, family, and acquaintances.
Exclusion: Deliberately excluding someone from an online group.
Impersonation: Breaking into someone’s e-mail or other online account and sending messages that will cause embarrassment or damage to the person’s reputation and affect his or her relationship with others.
Harassment: Repeatedly posting or sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages.
Cyberstalking: Posting or sending unwanted or intimidating messages, which may include threats.
Flaming: Online fights where scornful and offensive messages are posted on websites, forums, or blogs.
Outing and Trickery: Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information, which is then shared online.
Cyberthreats: Remarks on the Internet threatening or implying violent behavior, displaying suicidal tendencies.
Combatting the Cyberbullying Menace:
(See next blog entry: Part 2 of Online Bullying)