Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that happens online.  It can happen in an email, a text message, an online game, or comments on a social networking site.  It is done maliciously with the intent to embarrass, humiliate or threatened the victim.  As it is done without being physically present with the victim, it is something that can happen at any time of day or night.  

To view the Board’s policy on cyberbullying, click here.  

What to do if your Kids is Cyberbullied

1. Read the comments
2. Don’t over-react.  Bullies are looking for a reaction.  Have your son or daughter save the evidence and talk to you about it.  If the bullying continues, contact your school principal and the police.  

If your child find their profile has been altered without his/her permission, contact the company and have the site taken down.  

If the bullying involves instant messaging or a social networking site requiring “friends”, delete the bully from the list or block their username or email address.  

If your son or daughter sees cyberbullying happen to someone else, encourage him or her to stop it by not engaging or forwarding anything and by telling the bully to stop.  

Online Advice

• Politeness is important online – nothing wrong with ‘pls’ and ‘ty’ for please and thank you
• Don’t use large fonts or all capital letters – conveys yelling
• cc and reply all – do so with great care
• Avoid chain letters; they can be filled with viruses or spyware
• Have kids keep passwords that are harder for someone to guess or hack
• Don’t reply to requests for personal or financial information
• Don’t give out personal information as a result of a text request
• Be very cautious about opening any attachments or downloading files that you receive – again, often contains virus or spyware
• Use security software and frequently update it
• Many social networking sites have a feature that allows users to check their profiles and post comments from their phones - allowing access from anywhere – and not necessarily with the security safeguards on the home computer
• Smart phones have GPS technology – have kids aware that these features should only be used with people they know or trust – your son or daughter does not need his or her exact location broadcast to the world.

Sexting

Sending or forwarding sexually explicit photos, videos, or messages from a mobile phone.

Texting

Any kid with a cell phone is likely using it to receive and send text messages and images.  Some thoughts and safeguards on texting:

• Respect others – don’t type in complete shorthand so there may be confusion by the recipient as to what is being said
• Learn to block numbers
• Ignore texts from people not known
• Do not post cell phne numbers online
• Do not provide financial information online

Related Policies

• SO9 Cyberbullying