Combating the threat of Mobile Phone Bullying in Schools

1
Combating the threat of Mobile Phone Bullying in
Schools

• Nathalie Noret
• York St John University
• Cyber-Safety Event
• 14th November 2007

2
The role of the mobile phone

• Important to remember the positive aspects to
  mobile phone use
• Safety
• Social Aspects
• Confidence issues
• 97 of adolescents aged 12 to 16 currently own a
  mobile phone (NCH, 2005)

3
IntroductionWhat is bullying?

• Study Cyberbullying within the context of more
  traditional forms of bullying
• Smith Sharp (1994) Nansel et al (2004) define
  bullying behaviour
• An aggressive act
• Perpetrated with the intention of causing harm
• Experienced repeatedly over time
• Deliberate abuse of power

4
How does bullying occurthrough the mobile phone?

• Cambell (2005) defines cyberbullying as bullying
  which occurs through media and communication
  devices
• In terms of the mobile phone can occur in three
  main ways
• Sending text messages
• Taking inappropriate photos
• Making inappropriate videos
• As the majority of phones can now access the web,
  cyberbullying associated with the internet can
  also occur through the mobile phone

5
Cyberbullying

• Text Message
• Sending inappropriate text messages
• Sent by SMS (with a charge) or by Bluetooth (no
  charge)
• Can also be sent via the internet

6
Cyberbullying

• Photos
• Taking inappropriate photos
• Sent by MMS (with a charge) or by Bluetooth (no
  charge)
• Can be downloaded and distributed via the
  internet
• Can also be uploaded onto Ipod

7
Cyberbullying

• Photos
• Taking inappropriate videos
• Sent by MMS (with a charge) or by Bluetooth (no
  charge)
• Can be downloaded and distributed via the
  internet
• Can also be uploaded onto Ipod

8
CyberbullyingHow does it differ?

• No Escape
• Cyberbullying does not end at school
• Relationship between bully and victim
• Do not always know the bully or who is actually
  doing the bullying
• Teachers can be victims too
• Breadth of audience
• Particularly the internet
• The case of the Star Wars Kid

9
Does not just affect Children/ Teenagers
10
Cyberbullying usingYoutube

• The Star Wars Kid
• Rated the most watched Viral video (BBC 2006)
• Sent as an email attachment/ link to millions of
  people around the world
• Become a cult classic
• The Real Star Wars Kid Ghyslain Raza from Quebec
• Made the video for himself
• Stolen by friends
• Loaded onto the net and sent to other people who
  sent it on
• Ghyslain spent a year in psychiatric care

11
Cyberbullying The Star Wars Kid

• Youtube Star Wars Kid

12
Effects of Cyberbullying

• Research into traditional forms of bullying has
  identified a relationship with
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Lower self-esteem
• Higher levels of skipping school
• Higher levels of suicide ideation
• Research into Cyberbullying still needs to be
  conducted to identify whether the effects follows
  the same pattern

13
The Effects of Cyber-Bullying

• Youtube video Cyberbullying

14
The prevalence of Cyberbullying

• International Perspective
• Ybarra Mitchell (2004)
• Survey of 1501 adolescents in the US
• 19 had been involved in some form of online
  aggression
• Kowalski et al (2005)
• Survey of 3767 adolescents in the US
• 25 of girls and 11 of boys had been
  cyberbullied
• Li (2006)
• Survey of 264 Canadian adolescents
• 25 of males and 25.6 of females had been a
  victim of cyberbullying
• However 22.3 of males and 11.6 of females
  reported cyberbullying someone else

• National Perspective
• NCH
• Survey of 770 young people
• 20 had been cyberbullied
• 14 by text message, 5 in internet chat rooms,
  and 4 by email
• MSN
• Survey of 518 adolescents
• 11 had been a victim of cyberbullying
• Smith et al (2004)
• 22 had been a victim of cyberbullying

15
Method

• The City of York Stand Up for Us Project
• Commissioned by City of York LA, aimed to monitor
  the prevalence of bullying in schools
• Data collection began in 2002
• Annual Survey completed in the summer term every
  year
• Survey incorporates an adapted version of the
  Olweus (1991) Whitney Smith (1993) Bullying
  Questionnaire
• Participants (N14,281)

16
Method

• This study reports on one aspect of the project,
  focuses on responses to the question
• how often have you received nasty or threatening
  text messages or emails
• In 2006 survey this question was split in two
• In 2006 also asked participants to give examples
  of threatening messages they received

17
ResultsPrevalence of bullying
18
ResultsGender Differences
Girls Boys
19
ResultsThe Nature of Text Messages

• In 2006 asked participants to provide examples of
  nasty and/or threatening text messages they had
  received
• 172 messages were provided
• 16 were not included in the analysis
• Total of 156 messages, 118 from girls, 38 from
  boys included in the analysis

20
ResultsThe nature of text messages

• Threats of Physical Violence I am going to beat
  you up after school tomorrow
• Abusive/ Hate related Texts I hate you, you
  fucking bitch and youre a slag
• Name Calling Calling me fat and a midget
• Death threats That I was going to get killed
  and my throat slit
• Friendship/ Relationships Ive only had them
  when Ive fallen out and someone doesnt like
  me but they aren't threatening and we soon
  are friends again
• Sexual acts Wat up 2 I want to fuk u!
• Demanding Meet me somewhere
• Threats to Damage Relationships I will tell him
  wot you sed if you dont dump him
• Knowing where Recipient lives I know where you
  live and one day I will come and you wont
  like it!!!
• Family Related I will get you and your family
  too
• Chain Texts Send this txt message to ten of
  your friends if you dont you will pay!
• Other I will eat your soul ha ha ha

21
ResultsThe natures of text Messages
22
Summary of York Research

• Second most prevalent form of bullying in York
  Schools after Direct Verbal
• Suggest a strong gender difference
• Continues to increase in girls
• Pattern not so clear in boys
• Increases as Year 7 pupils move into Year 8
• Nature of the text messages are particularly
  violent
• Cyberbullying associated with negative school
  experiences
• Feeling lonely in school
• Reporting fewer friends
• More likely to be alone at break/ lunch time

23

• What can we do to tackle Cyberbullying?

24
Tackling Cyberbullying in schools

• Policy development
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
• Policy on Mobile Phone use in school
• Education
• Monitoring
• Reporting
• Dealing with an incident of cyberbullying

25
Policy Writing Anti-Bullying, Acceptable Use
Mobile phone use Policies

• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Acceptable Use Policies
• Becta and the DCFS Cyberbullying guidance provide
  examples of AUPs
• DCFS site also provides information on how
  Cyberbullying can be incorporated into the
  schools Anti-Bullying Policy

26
Policy Writing Anti-Bullying, Acceptable Use
Mobile phone use Policies

• Mobile Phone Use Policy
• DCFS suggests that schools create a mobile phone
  use policy
• Cambridgeshire County Council developed a model
  policy and guidance notes for parents and pupils.
  
• The policy outlines
• When a mobile phone can be used in school
• The consequences of mobile phone misuse in school
  
• Responsibilities of the pupil
• What will happen if a teacher believes a pupil
  has inappropriate material stored on their phone

27
Identifying Monitoring

• Regularly collect and analyse information
• on the incidence of bullying, taking full
• account of pupils views
• OFSTED (2003), pg 3
• The department and local authorities should work
  towards creating a culture where schools are open
  about any bullying taking place within them. We
  recommend that all local authorities, in
  partnership with schools, develop a robust system
  for the collation, evaluation and reporting of
  bullying for the purpose of effectively improving
  and tackling the management of this issue across
  all schools in their area.
• Commons Parliamentary Select Committee (2007), pg
  35

28
Identifying Monitoring

• Annual Survey
• Paper format or online
• Identifying the changing prevalence of the
  different forms of bullying, including
• The location
• The nature such as names being used
• Percentage of pupils who report bullying
• Changes in reports of bullying teachers

29
Teaching Mobile Phone SafetyCurriculum Links

• Citizenship
• 1a-Legal rights
• 1h- Importance of media
• 2a-Topical news issue
• 2b-Justifying views in speech and writing
• 2c Contributing to class discussion
• 3a- considering others experience
• English
• en1Group discussion and interaction
• en3- Writing to explain, persuade and describe

• PSHE
• 1b-Exploring own sense of self
• 2bKeeping healthy
• 2cGood relationships and the need for balance
• 2d-Understanding the need and value for laws and
  rules
• 3a-Bullying
• 3b-Empathy
• 3c-Nature of Friendship
• 3e-Friendship and family pressures
• 4g-Social and moral dilemmas

B-Aware Teacher Notes
30
Teaching Mobile Phone Safety Curriculum Links

• Cybersmart website
• American Site
• Includes information on
• Lesson Plans
• Safety
• Childnet International for Year 7, 8 9
• Know it all for schools
• Lesson plans

31
Important Points for pupils

• If you feel you are being bullied by mobile phone
  tell someone
• Never send any bullying or threatening messages.
• Serious bullying should be reported to the police
  
• Keep and save any bullying text messages, videos
  or images.
• If you can, make a note of the time and date
  bullying messages or images were sent, and note
  any details about the sender.
• Don't reply
• Don't forward abusive texts, images or videos
• Know how to contact your mobile phone provider

32
Dealing with an incident of cyberbullying

• In line with existing policies on dealing with
  bullying, in addition with mobile phone bullying
• Often have evidence of the event
• Contact police if illegal content
• Contact mobile phone provider
• Identify the bully if possible

33
References

• Li, Q., (2006). Cyberbullying A Research of
  Gender Differences. School Psychology
  International, 27, 1-14.
• MSN (2006). MSN Cyberbullying Report Blogging,
  Instant Messaging and email bullying amongst
  todays teens.
  www.msn.co.uk /cyberbullying Accessed 26/06/2006.
  
• NCH (2005). Putting U in the Picture Mobile
  Phone Bullying Survey 2005. www.nch.org.uk
• Ybarra, M.L. Mitchell, K.J. (2004). Online
  aggressor/targets, aggressors, and targets a
  comparison of associated youth characteristics.
  Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45
  (7), 1308-1316.

34
Useful websites

• B-Aware Teacher Notes
• http//www.imcb.org.uk/assets/documents/10000107B-
  awareTeachersNotes.pdf
• Becta Schools Page
• http//schools.becta.org.uk/
• DFES Guidance on Cyberbullying
• http//www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/cyberbullying_what
  canyoudo.shtml
• Phone Crime Advice
• http//www.outofyourhands.com/main_menu.htm
• Teaching expertise
• http//www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/combatin
  g-mobile-phone-bullying-992
• Bullying.co.uk Guidance for teachers
• http//www.bullying.co.uk/schools/cyberbullying.ph
  p

35
Links

• http//protectourchildren.o2.co.uk/PreventBullying
  .jsp
• http//www.vodafone.com/start/responsibility/consu
  mer_issues/malicious_mobile_phone.html
• http//www.stoptextbully.com/help/10/where-can-i-g
  et-more-help
• http//www1.orange.co.uk/safety/tags/bullying/
• http//www.t-mobile.co.uk/help-and-advice/advice-f
  or-parents/bullying/

36
Thanks

• City of York Local Authority
• The Schools and Teachers involved
• The participating pupils

37
Contact Details

• Nathalie Noret
• Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
• York St John University
• Lord Mayors Walk
• York
• YO31 7EX
• n.noret_at_yorksj.ac.uk
• [phone]