BE CAREFUL!

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten,embarrass, or target another person. By definition, it occurs among young people. When an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyberstalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time.

Cyberbullying also can happen accidentally. The impersonal nature of text messages and emails make it very hard to detect the sender's tone - one person's joke could be another's hurtful insult.Nevertheless, a repeated pattern of emails, texts, and online posts is rarely accidental. Because many kids are reluctant to report being bullied, even to their parents, it's impossible to know just how many are affected.But recent studies about cyberbullying rates have found that about 1 in 4 teens have been the victims of cyberbullying, and about 1 in 6 admit to having cyberbullied someone. In some studies, more than half of the teens surveyed said that they've experienced abuse through social and digital media.

No longer limited to schoolyards or street corners, modern-day bullying can happen at home as well as at school — essentially 24 hours a day. Picked-on kids can feel like they're getting blasted nonstop and that there is no escape. As long as kids have access to a phone, computer, or other device (including tablets), they are at risk. Severe, long-term, or frequent cyberbullying can leave both victims and bullies at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. In some rare but highly publicized cases, some kids have turned to suicide. Experts say that kids who are bullied — and the bullies themselves — are at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completed suicides.

To get to the heart of the matter, if you or your kids have been bullied, talking to teachers, guidance counselors, and other school officials or elders can help you to avoid bullies. If your child is a bully and has trouble in managing anger, talk to a therapist to help your son or daughter cope with anger, frustration, hurt and other strong emotions in a healthy way. And don't forget to set a good example yourself - model good online habits to help others understand the benefits and the dangers of life in the digital world.