Currently, cyber bullying is one of the fastest growing problems facing school administrators and local governments around the country. Cyber bullying is defined as using the computer or other electronic devices to intimidate, threaten or humiliate another individual. Cyber bullying most commonly takes place on the Internet among students from a given school or neighborhood.

What follows is a series of highly publicized cases of Cyber bullying – each one chosen to shed light on the nature of the problem and the fallout that ensues when one young individual uses technology to hurt another person psychologically.

The Megan Meier MySpace Incident

Megan Meier was a 13 year old from Missouri who struck up an online friendship on the popular social networking site MySpace with a person she believed was a new boy in her hometown. In actuality, the “friend” was a group of individuals, including adults, who were intent on humiliating the poor girl because of a friendship with another child that had gone awry. Megan was very upset when she found out the truth, then later committed suicide once the friendship had terminated. The horrifying case stunned the community and caused state government officials to pass some of the harshest cyber bullying laws in the country.

The “Kill Kylie” Campaign of Hate and Homophobia

Kylie Kenney, an eighth grade student from Vermont lost two years of her life as a result of cyber bullying from classmates. From junior high through her sophomore year of high school, Kylie was forced to deal with websites created by her classmates that featured names like “Kill Kylie Incorporated” that were filled with threatening, homophobic remarks about the young girl. These hurtful kids obtained screen names with handles close to Kylie’s name and used them to make suggestive remarks and sexual advances on Kylie’s teammates on the field hockey team. As a result police filed charges of harassments against the individuals responsible.

The “Dog Poop Girl”

In South Korea, a female college student was riding the train with her dog when it defecated on the floor of the subway car. After the girl refused to clean up the mess, another passenger on the train took her picture using her cell phone and posted it online. In the months to follow, it became an Internet sensation in South Korea and “Dog Poop” girl became the target of extreme harassment. Individuals found out her name and address and soon she was forced to withdraw from school and move to another part of the country.

A Fake Facebook Rival

This year in Clinton Missouri, charges were filed against a teenager who allegedly created a fake Facebook account to serve as a competition against a young girl who was interested romantically in a male student. The account was created by another girl who wanted the boy all to herself, the suit claims. As a result, the targeted individual underwent significant levels of stress which affected her studies and her ability to attend school regularly. The case is one of many that feature phony accounts on Facebook or MySpace that are used to harass young people or stir up trouble among friends.

Cyber Bullying has become a worldwide problem because of the difficulty to track its occurrences. It some cases it has been accepted as humor, but when is it taken to far? When a child has taken her own life because she was cyber bullied, we know it has been taken way too far.

Cyber bullying has been present in the 2008 presidential election with the slurrying of both presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. Even the vice-presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden have been victims of this abuse. These slanders wouldn’t technically be considered cyber bullying, but are loosely related. Senator Sarah Palin has received the worst of it with the creation of videos mocking her interviews on Saturday Night Live. NBC reports over 7 million views online, with millions more watching it on YouTube and Google video.

CyberBully Alert is an innovative new technology that helps families fight back against online predators and cyber bullies. Visit www.cyberbullyalert.com today for more information.

Recently, a number of states have passed strong cyber bullying laws that are designed to protect children from being harassed, threatened and humiliated online. These laws represent a crucial step towards National anti-cyber bullying laws which will protect children of all ages in every corner of the country.

Here is a state-by-state look at some of these laws:

Arkansas
In 2007, the Arkansas legislation passed a law allowing school officials to take action against cyber bullies even if the bullying did not originate or take place on school property. The law gave school administrators much more freedom to punish those individuals who sought to harass their fellow students.

Idaho
2006 saw Idaho lawmakers pass a law that allowed school officials to suspend students if they bullied or harassed other students using a telephone or computer.

Iowa
Iowa has passed several laws that force schools to create anti-cyber bullying policies which cover bullying “in schools, on school property or at any school function or school-sponsored activity.”

New Jersey
The Garden State of New Jersey has always maintained tough laws about bullying, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the laws were amended to include bullying via “electronic communication.” These laws give additional power to the school system to enforce bullying-related punishment for actions that may not take place while on school grounds.

Oregon
The progressive state of Oregon really delves into the details of cyber bullying. The laws passed in recent years in Oregon expand the boundaries of what constitutes cyber bullying to include those actions which “substantially interfere” with the education of the young person.

Missouri
The suicide of a 13-year old girl Megan Meier who was the victim of an internet hoax greatly raised the awareness of cyber bullying and its consequences in the state of Missouri. Governor Matt Blunt went so far as to create a task force whose sole purpose was to study and create laws regarding cyber bullying. As a result the Internet Harassment Task Force now stands as a shining example for other states around the country. Missouri has also toughened their laws on the matter, upgrading cyber-harassment from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony.

New York
New York created a system to investigate claims of cyber bullying that would help police and school officials better ascertain the circumstances of each occurrence and prosecute or punish the culprits to the fullest extent of the law.

Rhode Island
The governor of Rhode Island is currently trying to pass a bill that would force repeat cyber bullying offenders to appear in family court, where they would be charged as delinquents under the terms of the state’s laws for young offenders.

Vermont
Vermont has added a $500 fine for cyber bullying offenses to their already stringent laws on the matter. There is currently a bill being discussed that would increase the reach of the school’s powers regarding cyber bullying when the action puts the individual’s ability to learn (or health and safety) at risk.

It is common knowledge that the web is filled with potential dangers for our children. However, kids need to develop their computer skills in order to stay competitive in school, and one day, the job market. With that in mind, we present the following positive, educational or just plain fun activities that kids can engage in online.

Positive Online Activities for Kids

1. Learn about their world. The web is home to some of the most comprehensive almanacs and encyclopedias in the world. The following websites are great resources for legitimate information online: www.encyclopedia.com, www.wikipedia.org, and www.britannica.com. With just the click of a mouse, a child can not only learn about different cultures and bygone eras, they can see that information come to life with full color photos, videos and other multimedia.
2. Keep in touch with family. Young kids and grandparents. A match made in heaven. But what if grandma and grandpa are thousands of miles away and are only able to make limited trips to see the family? Kids can use email to communicate with ALL their relatives around the world – and can even create a family website featuring photos and other cool information.
3. Play educational games. Not all web-based games are mindless first-person shooters. Some actually have educational value. Do some Google searches to find the ones best suited for your kids - be they historical trivia quizzes or logic puzzles.
4. Do research on their homework materials. Online, kids can gather all kinds of reference materials for papers, science projects, oral essays and other school assignments. (Note to parents: Be sure and check the credibility of the source materials your children use. Also, be sure to explain to them how “cutting and pasting” information on the web is plagiarism).
5. Start a blog. Setting up a wordpress blog through Word Press is fun and easy. Why not sit down with your child and help them develop a blog about their favorite hobbies or interests? The child will be learning one of the most valuable web development skills out there today and engaging in a productive activity to boot.
6. Get involved with a cause. There are literally thousands of websites devoted to informing people about important causes and charities around the globe. Many of these sites feature “KIDS SECTIONS” where young people can learn more about the topic and get involved. These kinds of activities illustrate one of the great, unheralded benefits of the Internet: that it makes our world smaller and connects us with one another in powerful ways.

The best thing to remember about kids and the Internet is to keep everything closely monitored and always in moderation. Set aside specific hours when you child can use the computer and always monitor that time as closely as you can. Ask other parents about the activities they engage in with their kids and get ideas from that community.

Few things upset a parent more than hearing that their child has been the victim bullying. And while schoolyard bullying is a historic problem (and continues to be so) modern technology has increased the bullying problem by creating a new breed of the problem - the cyber bully.

Cyber bullying and physical bullying may differ in many ways, but the pain that they both cause is remarkably similar. The children who are able to overcome bullying are not necessarily the strongest kids on the block, but rather the ones with the parents who are best educated on the subject.

The following are vital, expert tips on how to help your child avoid getting bullied – and enrich their self-esteem in the process. These tips are not meant to solve the bullying problem, but instead give your child some education on how to handle these difficult situations.

Tips for protecting your kids from schoolyard bullies

Tip #1: Teach your child to use their words instead of their fists

Back in the old days, parents (especially fathers) used to tell their kids to fight back when threatened by a bully. We now know that strategy is not the most productive course of action. By using their words in the face of the predator, the child is refusing to reinforce the bullying behavior and therefore opening up a crack in the bully’s armor. This action will gain support from their peers, which will in turn weaken the bully’s resolve. For example, teach your child to say “I’m not afraid of you” when confronted by a bully. This will build their self-confidence as it erodes the confidence of the bully.

Tip #2: Role play with your kids

One of the most effective ways to teach your kids how to handle a bully is to role play a variety of different situations with them at home. Show them how to respond when someone is picking on them. Give them “lines” to read that will protect them and build their self-esteem at the same time. For example, when a bully says “I’m going to punch you if you don’t give me your lunch money” have your child rehearse responses such as “that’s not going to do you any good, it will just get you in big trouble eventually.” Educate them on whom to contact if they are bullied, for instance the school principal, teacher, or any other school staff. This will empower them and boost their self esteem when dealing with these issues.

Tips for protecting your kids from cyber bullying

Tip #1: Explain to them about the dangers of the Internet

Kids can be very trusting, especially when they are online. Sit down and explain to them the potential dangers of the Internet. Explain how, some people are not who they claim to be online, and just like in the real world, they should never agree to meet with a stranger or offer any information about themselves when online. Educating your child is crucial in preventing your child from cyber bullies, online predators, or any other person looking to harm your child.

Tip #2: Monitor their Internet time

Many parents have created “Internet Family Time” as a way to monitor their child’s Internet use while still giving them the freedom to use the computer for school work and communicating with their friends. Place the computer in a central location, for example the living room; this will allow you to regulate any websites they are browsing. Make this time fun, educative, and get the whole family involved. There is no reason that the parents can’t get involved in a good game of Chess or a crossword puzzle online. Refer to your helpful tips on how to monitor your child’s internet use for more information.

Tip #3: Block access to suspect web sites

One of the best ways to avoid cyber bullying is to help your child avoid the situation in the first place. By using some of the best-selling software programs available on the market, parents can block access to the most potentially dangerous sites on the web. You can easily “blacklist” all websites and instant messenger (IM) clients so that your child has no access. We recommend blocking popular social networking sites like Myspace.com and Friendster.com because they are most popular locations for cyber bullies. You should disallow access to any online chat rooms, forums, and other online social communities. In addition, you can give your child limited user rights when using the computer, this means disabling unnecessary applications, for example Yahoo Messenger, AIM, or Gtalk. This limited access also prevents installation of any new applications without your consent.

In the decade since it became an integral part of our lives, the Internet has transformed the way we communicate, do business, shop and obtain information.  But perhaps no group has been as profoundly impacted by the web as our children.   Children as young as five years old are able to navigate the online world with ease – and the older they get the more they use it to communicate with their friends and get help with their school work.

But our children are also at great risk when they are online.  Danger lurks around every corner in the form of cyber-bullies, predators and massive amounts of inappropriate information – both hidden (in chat rooms) and overt (in pornography and other adult sites).

As parents, we walk a fine line – we must allow our kids to use the computer in order to stay current and build skills for their future, but we must also play the role of watch-dog in order to make sure that they do not fall prey to those who would exploit them online.

To help guide the way, here are some simple tips for monitoring your child’s Internet time.

Explain the rules right up front

No matter how you choose to monitor your child’s Internet use, it is important to let them know right from the start that you will be an active part of the computer time.  But don’t stop there – explain that you are doing it for their own safety, telling them about the potential dangers that can be found on the Internet.

Make computer time family time

The best way to help your children stay safe while they are online is to supervise their activity.  And the most effective, productive way to do that is to hold daily “Internet Family Time” in which every child is given a chance to work or play online, but with adults present. Be sure to make this time fun, and something the kids look forward to every day.

Monitor bookmarks and history records

Another effective method for monitoring a child’s Internet use is simply reviewing their bookmarks or site history at the end of their online sessions.  This will provide a clearer picture of the kinds of sites your children are visiting, and will give you a chance to talk to them about inappropriate websites and potential online dangers that can be found in the sites they are browsing.   Many kids may be unaware of the types of people who inhabit these sites, and will benefit greatly from a little extra information.

Block unwanted sites

Recent software innovations have made it possible for parents to install site blockers into their browsers which prevent children from viewing certain sites.   While these programs are effective, they are not perfect (and may be no match for a motivated, tech-savvy kid) and should always be accompanied by parental education or involvement (such as those listed above).

Has your child been the victim of a cyberbully?  Are you concerned about threat of cyberbullying in your child’s peer group?  CyberBully Alert helps families fight back against online predators and cyberbullies.    Visit www.cyberbullyalert.com today for more information.

Bullying is nothing new to school or youth culture. The past several decades in the United States have seen a remarkably consistent pattern, with bullying beginning in the elementary school years, peaking in frequency and intensity during junior high school (grades six through eight) and leveling off (but continuing) through high school.

But the rise of the Internet as a mean of regular communication between our children has opened up new doors for those who wish to bully other children. Chat rooms, MySpace, email, instant messaging and other online tools have all helped create the cyber bullying epidemic.

Statistics about cyberbullying

• According to the National Crime Prevention Center, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied online during the past year.
• Girls are more likely than boys to be the target of cyberbullying. Also, there is a direct correlation to the amount of time girls spend online and the likelihood that they will be bullied.
• The National Crime Prevention Center National Crime Prevention Center study found that only 10% of those kids who were bullied told their parents about the incident, and that a mere 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency.
• Only 15% of parents are “in the know” about their kids’ social networking habits, and how these behaviors can lead to cyberbullying.
• Currently, the most common virtual locations for cyberbullying are chat rooms, social networking web sites, email and instant message systems.
• Of the technologies above, chat rooms are currently where the most cyberbullying occurs, with various sources finding anywhere between 45% - 57% of all incidents originating there.
• Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are growing fast, and so are the cyberbullying incidents originating from them. Experts believe that they will soon overtake chat rooms as the top source of cyberbullying problems worldwide.
• According to a recent study, 58% of 4th through 8th graders reported having mean or cruel things said to them online. 53% said that they have said mean or hurtful things to others while online. 42% of those studied said that they had been “bullied online”, but almost 60% have never told their parents about the incident.
• Cell phone cameras and digital cameras are a growing problem in the cyberbullying world. A recent survey found that 10% of 770 young people surveyed were made to feel “threatened, embarrassed or uncomfortable” by a photo taken of them using a cell-phone camera.
• According to extensive research on middle school age students and teenagers online, the fastest growing problems within the world of cyberbullying are:
  • Stealing an individual’s name and password to a social networking site, then using their profile to post rumors, gossip or other damaging information.
  • Altering photographs using PhotoShop or other photo editing software in order to humiliate the individual.
  • Recording conversations without the individual’s knowledge or consent, then posting the call online.
  • Creating confrontational and mean-spirited online polls about the individual and posting them on different web sites.
  • Using web sites and blogs to post hurtful, embarrassing information about another individual.

Cyberbullying is a growing problem in the United States and throughout the world. The act of Cyberbullying occurs when individuals use the Internet to harass or embarrass other people. Most often, cyberbullying occurs between kids who go to the same school or live in the same neighborhood.

But what are the tools of cyberbullies that allow them to hold such sway over their peers? The following is a list of five technologies currently employed by cyberbullies to intimidate other kids.

1. MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites - Currently the leading medium for cyberbullying incidents around the United States, social networking sites have become the instrument of choice for those kids and teens who look to humiliate other young people. These sites provide a means for individuals to post embarrassing photos, conduct mean-spirited online polls and other forms of cyberbullying. Another growing concern in this area is the theft of user IDs and passwords. When one individual steals another’s login information, they can go into their account and make statements in that person’s name. The results can be socially devastating to a teenager or adolescent.
2. Instant messaging - Instant messaging is a staple of major Internet companies such as AOL, Yahoo, Google (through its Gmail service) and MSN. Unfortunately, it is also used as a means of harassment. Many kids have adopted fake screen names and then used these account to “ping” their enemies with profanity and threats of violence.
3. Email – Email is a relatively anonymous act, especially if an individual goes by a screen name that bears no resemblance to their actual name. Email is used to send threatening letters and images, and can be the delivery device for rumors and falsehoods about an individual. Although many kids have moved on to social network sites as a means for their cyber bullying, email remains an “old school” way of performing this hateful act.
Give your child the ability to report cyber bullying incidents instantly with CyberBully Alert Software.
4. PhotoShop – Surprisingly, the world’s most popular photo editing software is also a device used in many cyberbullying cases. In most cases, one individual will take a photo of another person and alter it so that the victim appears to be in a compromising position, or doing something they should not be doing. Digital camera and camera phones in general have been a problem in Cyberbullying cases – as they give individuals the power to take hidden or unwanted photos of another person, and then spread them instantly across the Internet.
5. Blogs – Many teenagers have gone so far as to create entire blogs focusing on their rivals or enemies. These blogs invite user participation via comment posts and create a permanent entity that intimidates the individual in question. Blogs are easy to set up and can be created anonymously, which only serves to make the problem that much worse. With little accountability, the bully is free to let loose a stream of destructive and hurtful language.

CyberBully Alert is an innovative new technology that helps families fight back against online predators and cyberbullies.

The Internet has provided a new method of communication for young people from all over the world. For most, online social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are an opportunity to share feelings about music, movies, school and anything else that kids tend to talk about with one another when they congregate.

But as kids gain a greater mastery over the online tools at their disposal, more and more are using these technologically advanced sites, and major consumer software programs, for an insidious purpose – namely, cyberbullying.

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying occurs when one or more individuals use the Internet to inflict psychological harm on another individual. This can occur in many forms, including: using social media techniques to spread hurtful or untrue information about another individual, creating fake identities and using them to manipulate others, posting unwanted photos of an individual, or doctoring photos of an individual using PhotoShop or other photo editing software programs.

The sad case of Megan Meier

Recently, cyberbullying made headlines when a 13-year old girl from Missouri named Megan Meier committed suicide in her bedroom inside her parent’s home. An investigation found that Megan’s death was likely caused due to stress over being the target of a cruel cyberbullying incident.

Megan developed a relationship on MySpace with an individual who she thought was a new boy in the area, but turned out to be a cabal of other individuals from the neighborhood, including adults such as Lori Drews (who’s 13-year old daughter was once friends with Megan, but had gotten into a fight with her) and an 18-year-old temporary office worker who worked for Drews.

The group created an elaborate hoax to make Megan believe that she had a burgeoning relationship with the boy. When the plot was revealed for all to see, Megan was unable to deal with the humiliation and took her own life.

The state of Missouri had no cyberbullying laws at the time of Megan’s suicide and was therefore unable to prosecute Lori Drews or any of the other parties involved. Federal prosecutors working in Los Angeles however, saw the case as a clear cut violation of the Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act and stepped in to bring Drews up on charges for violating the terms and conditions of her MySpace account. That case is currently pending.

Bullying and young girls

This sad case is unique in that it involved an adult at the helm who should have known better, but the act of bullying has been around as long as there have been children. And while many individuals associate bully-behavior with boys, some of the most devastating instances of bullying occur with girls. What makes girl-girl bullying so harmful is that the age in which it is most likely to occur, say twelve to eighteen years old, is the time in which young women-to-be are dealing with a number of challenging issues regarding their bodies and self-image. Exposing them to high levels of emotional stress, such as those coming from being the target of a cyberbullying incident, can yield unpredictable and often tragic results.

The ACLU gets involved

And this incident is far from over. Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has become involved in the case, concerned that in their haste to bring someone to justice for Megan Meier’s tragic death, Federal prosecutors will be setting a bad precedent, and that the door will open to prosecute (or investigate) anyone who innocently violates the terms and conditions of the websites they use. Like the federal case against Lori Drews, this case is pending as well.

Cyber bullying in the News | Video Update

One of the most dangerous, insidious aspects of the Internet is the targeting of children by online sexual predators. These criminals employ a series of clever, manipulative tactics to reach out to children in an effort to get them to meet in person. Any parent with children who use the Internet should be aware of the following strategies employed by online predators.
Strategies of online predators

• Targeting children who are new to the Internet. Children who are unaware of the hidden dangers of the Internet make easy prey for online predators.
• Sending gifts to children in the mail. Many online predators will attempt to curry favor with children by sending expensive gifts to their home address. This is one of the primary reasons why parents must insist that children NEVER give out their personal information online.
• Targeting kids who are confused about their sexual identity. Predators can seem supportive and understanding to kids who need to talk about their sexual identity issues, when in reality, they are simply gathering information to use against them in the future.
• Focusing on kids with problems at home. Just as in the last point, online predators will gather at sites and chat rooms where kids come to talk about their problems at school or in the home. The predators know that these kids are most vulnerable and prone to their manipulative tactics.
• Online predators test the child’s comfort levels. Many online predators move slowly, befriending the young person before moving in for a meeting or sexual discussions online. Others, if they feel the child is open to it, will immediately begin explicit conversations with the child and use it to build a bond between them. Either way, these are highly manipulative individuals who know how to reach a child where they are most vulnerable.

Helping your kids avoid online predators.

The following tips will help parents keep their kids safe from online predators, while still giving them the freedom to use the Internet and learn valuable life skills:

• Talk to them about the dangers that exist online. Parents should learn everything they can about online predators and cyberbullying, then share that information in an open and honest dialogue with their children.
• Monitor their computer use. As a parent, you can’t be everywhere all the time, but you can limit the bulk of your child’s online time to periods when adults are present. Create “online family” time and use these moments to learn more about your kids and what they like to do.
• Instruct your kids to tell an adult if they feel threatened or uncomfortable while online. Many kids who encounter online predators never tell an adult because they are too embarrassed. Make sure they know that the best thing to do is tell their parents or teachers IMMEDIATELY when they encounter a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Cyber bullying in the News | Video Update

Every day, for kids of all ages, the problem of cyberbullying grows. The more time kids spend online, and the more net-savvy they become, the greater the odds are that they will become the target of other children who seek to hurt or embarrass them online.

The following are ten simple tips for keeping your kids safe online, and out of the hands of cyberbullies at school and from around the world.

10 tips to help stop cyberbullying

1. Talk to the school. If the cyberbullying in question is coming from a classmate, contact school officials immediately to determine if they have a policy in place to deal with such behavior.
2. Tell your kids not to open or read emails that they suspect are from cyberbullies. In the case of the Internet and Cyberbullying, what you can’t read won’t hurt you. Teach kids to dump suspicious emails right in the trash.
3. Take advantage of the technology. Bullies who use chat rooms as a means for spreading hate can easily be blocked using most chat programs. Sit down and take the time to show your kids how they can filter out bad people from their conversations.
4. Tell children NEVER to agree to meet someone they meet online. The Internet is filled with individuals who have bad intentions. Even those people who may seem trustworthy in their online persona may turn out to be a cyberbully or even a predator. Teach kids the importance of staying safe online.
Give your child the ability to report cyber bullying incidents instantly with CyberBully Alert Software.
5. Supervise your kids’ online time. One of the most foolproof methods for stopping Cyberbullying is to monitor closely what your children do online. Tips for this method include removing computers with an Internet connection from the child’s bedroom and designating specific “family hours” for Internet use.
6. Tell your kids to never share their passwords or personal information with anyone. Friends and acquaintances of your children can wield a great deal of power if the know the passwords to their favorite sites and chat rooms. One of the fastest-growing types of cyberbullying is stealing someone’s identity and making embarrassing, damaging statements in that person’s name.
7. Monitor the use of your child’s photo online. Many cyberbullies will take your child’s photo and manipulate in ways that are damaging or embarrassing. Be very careful about the images your child presents online.
8. Watch out for the warning signs. Kids who are being cyberbullied may not want to talk about the problem with their parents. Common warning signs include depression, withdrawal from social situations, and spending more and more time online.
9. Be willing to contact the police. Parents who have gathered evidence about cyberbullying, and feel as if contacting the school has not stopped the problem should contact police – especially if the cyberbully has made threats to the health and well-being of the child.
10. Stick to your guns. The Internet is a big part of your child’s life. Getting them to agree to be safe and limit their unsupervised time online may be difficult. Stay firm and continue to oversee their computer time – even if the child lashes out and claims that you are invading their privacy.

Cyberbullying in the News | Video Update