Cyberbullying+and+harassment

=**Cyberbullying**= Harassment and cyber bullying can have devastating consequences. How are people harassed using social __media__? What is being done to prevent this?

As technology and Social Media continue to advance, Cyberbullying is becoming a bigger problem for __kids__ and teens worldwide. "Cyberbullying" is basically the act of bullying done by the use of technology, i.e. phones or internet, usually through chat rooms or any website that provides some form of __online__ communication, like Facebook. According to [], one in ten Australian teens experience some form of cyberbullying.

People who are being cyberbullied may experience things like:
 * Threats, which can sometimes get as serious as death threats
 * Cruel or harsh messages, via Text, Facebook etc...
 * Being impersonated by someone or having __your account__ stolen
 * Having personal __information__ or embarrassing photos or videos sent to others
 * Being stalked, possibly by someone older

One of the biggest risks teenagers can take around cyberbullying, is "sexting". Sometimes when teens are in a relationship, they decide to send explicit photos or videos of themselves to their boyfriend/girlfriend. If they then split up, the holder of these photos/videos will sometimes leak them online or share them via mobile phone to humiliate their ex. This can prove just as emotionally hurtful if not more, than just being harassed over the internet.

Recently, cyberbullying has become a topic that is often talked about in schools, to educate kids and teens about the signs of cyberbullying, to raise awareness of what is involved when we say "cyberbullying" and how serious it can become, and to explain the consequences to warn anyone who may themselves be a cyberbully, possibly without knowing. Parents/Caregivers: teaching your kids early about all the dangers of the internet is __**essential**__.

The best way to prevent cyberbullying is to keep all your passwords and log in information to **__yourself__**. It's best not to add people you don't know at all, but if you do decide to, definitely don't tell them any personal information, such as your phone number or your address. If someone does __begin__ harassing you, remember you can __**always**__ block or report them. Don't be scared to let your parents/caregivers or anyone you look up to know if you are being harassed online. Remember: **You are not alone.**

You may know someone who is being cyberbullied, with or without realising it. Here are some common signs of someone who may be being cyberbullied, from the website [|http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44247828/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/how-tell-if-your-childs-being-cyber-bullied/#.Tzdqg07xqmA]:


 * They suddenly spend a noticeably greater amount of time online, texting or gaming
 * They become withdrawn or upset after using the internet or his/her phone
 * They consider shutting down an account on a social media site
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">They suddenly avoid enjoyable social situations
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">They act frustrated, impatient or act out more

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If you think you know someone who is being cyberbullied, talk to them. Direct them to get help, from either their parents, their school or helplines like the Kid's Help Line, a free and confidential help line for people aged 5 to 25 (1800 55 1800).

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">- Kyla

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Here is an article about internet bullying

=Cyber-bullied teen taunted after death=

A teenage girl who took her own life after being bullied online continues to be the victim of cyber taunts, as people post abuse on her Facebook tribute page.

More than 140 high school students gathered in a Sydney park this afternoon to remember 16-year-old Daani Sanders, who died last night.

Daani's friends, who gathered to mourn her at the Castle Hill reserve at 4pm, told Nine News the teenager was persistently bullied on Facebook, where she had nearly 2000 online friends.

And sadly, the online bullying has continued since her death.

A number of nasty comments posted on Daani’s memorial Facebook page today have sparked conflict among her online friends.

"Deserved it. I (laughed out loud) hard," one poster wrote.

Another leapt to Daani’s defence: "The disrespectful people writing nasty comments on this page need to step back and realise that it’s people like them that cause these tragic things to happen."

Daani attended Crestwood High School in Baulkham Hills until March, when her parents withdrew her from the school.

But her boyfriend, Tyler Cassel, told //Nine News// he had not been aware of the extent of her problems.

"I guess bullying could come in but I don't know, I don't really think it's about bullying," he said.

"She has other issues that no one knows, not even me."

Lifeline patron and former politician, John Brogden, said Daani's death was a tragic wake-up call.

"The worst thing we could do is ignore what has happened here," he said.

"It’s a tragedy, we'll never understand why it happened or what was in that young girl's mind but what is important is if we ignore what happened, we ignore the problem of suicide."

__[]__

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Jono

Cyber bullying is the use of online technology to harass or intimidate another person. Cyber bullying has become quite common as users often feel they can say what they like and often stay anonymous. They may pretend to be someone else so that the person doesn’t actually know who is harassing or threatening them. Often people will either steal the account of the person they are bullying or pretend to be someone that person cares about.

Cyber bullying often happens through mediums such as Facebook, MySpace, MSM, Formspring and also quite common through text messaging, phone calls, emails, chat room bullying etc.

Cyber bullying is much easier than saying things face to face to someone, as they don’t see the other person’s reaction, you’re less likely to feel sorry or to think about what they are saying.

Sexting is another way of bullying. Someone sends an explicit picture to their boyfriend or girlfriend and when they break up the person who has the picture may send it around the school as a way of making the person feel miserable and humiliated.

In a lot of cases, people who are experiencing cyber bullying act similar to the way they would act with normal bullying. Some ways they might be acting would include spending more time on games or on the computer, acting upset or angry after getting off the computer, they start avoiding hanging out with friends etc.

Apart from blocking or deleting the person who is doing the cyber bullying there is a help line for people aged between 5 and 25 (1800 55 1800). It also helps to talk about the problems with family and friends. If the situation becomes overwhelming or dangerous call the police and show them the evidence.

-Sam Harding.

What is Cyber Bullying?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> 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 ** cyber-stalking **, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sometimes cyberbullying can be easy to spot — for example, if your child shows you a text message, tweet, or response to a status update on Facebook that is harsh, mean, or cruel. Other acts are less obvious, like impersonating a victim online or posting personal information, photos, or videos designed to hurt or embarrass another person. Some kids report that a fake account, web page, or online persona has been created with the sole intention to harass and bully.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> Cyberbullying also can happen accidentally. The impersonal nature of text messages, IMs, 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, text messages, and online posts is rarely accidental.

[]

-Mark Bondarenko