Cyberbullying: Neither an Epidemic Nor a Rarity

Growing public awareness of electronic bullying and harassment among adolescents suggests the need to empirically investigate this increasingly common and problematic behavior. Although studies of cyberbullying and online harassment among young people are nascent, preliminary findings suggest that victimization can undermine the freedom of youth to use and explore valuable online resources, and may have…

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Resources to Teach Your Students about Cyberbullying and Online Responsibility

Now is the time to start thinking about what *you* are going to do to educate your students about cyberbullying, digital citizenship, online responsibility, and overall safety. A key to any educational effort is consistent reinforcement of the messages you want students to incorporate into their daily lives. Convening an all-school assembly on these topics…

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Bring Your Own Device To School

Many educators have struggled to confront the challenges associated with high-tech devices in the classrooms (especially cell phones).  Cyberbullying.  Cheating.  Distractions.  Inappropriate digital material. There is no shortage of possible issues. The seemingly easy way to respond to these concerns has been to ban all personal electronic devices from the classroom (or the entire school). …

Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives Cyberbullying Research Center image 1

Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives

Just as the previous generation was raised in front of televisions, adolescents at the turn of the 21st century are being raised in an internet-enabled world where blogs, social networking, and instant messaging are competing with face-to-face and telephone communication as the dominant means through which personal interaction takes place. Unfortunately, a small but growing…

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Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Electronic Dating Violence

Electronic dating violence is “emotional or psychological harm in a romantic relationship perpetrated through the use of computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices.” Research has also shown that teenagers are at a higher risk than adults when it comes to abuse by intimates. Since the vast, vast majority of teens have embraced the use…

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Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: Cyberbullying and Sexual Orientation

Bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression has made headlines across the United States, and has been identified as a priority area for focus and attention by our federal government. This fact sheet examines data that specifically clarifies how bullying and cyberbullying are tied to sexual orientation, details civil rights implications for students, and…

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Password Safety Among Teens

Passwords are necessary to access personal accounts on a computer network. They serve as “authentication” devices and uniquely identify someone as being who they claim to be. Of course, correct authentication prevents others from accessing or altering your personal data. In our current Information Age, passwords are a part of everyday life. However, some users…

Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response Cyberbullying Research Center

Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response

One of greatest and fastest growing threats to our youth today is cyberbullying. With the explosion of technology and social networking sites on the Internet, bullying has moved from physical confrontation in the schoolyard to a more psychologically damaging experience. Cyberbullying is having a profound impact on students across the globe and educators are scrambling…

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Cyberbullying Evidence and Cell Phone Service Provider Data Retention

Educators and parents are often interested in learning about digital evidence and its collection. Many times, they (or the youth they care for) help with collecting evidence to depict cyberbullying instances by taking screenshots (see our instructional guide here) or using freeware or commercial software to record chat logs, instant messaging conversations, emails, and social…

Overview of Cyberbullying White Paper for the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention Cyberbullying Research Center

Overview of Cyberbullying White Paper for the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention

Kids have been bullying each other for generations. The latest generation, however, has been able to utilize technology to expand their reach and the extent of their harm. This phenomenon is being called cyberbullying, defined as: “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” This White Paper…