Cyberbullying: Implications

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CyberbullyingImplications ResponsesAdrienne
Katz Regional AdviserWest Midlands
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• Cyberbullying first emerged as an issue
• in 2002 (NCH)
• Threats or bullying by mobile or on PC
• experienced by 1 in 4 of 856 people, 11 -19
• Exciting enabling technology but there are risks

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Was this replacing age old prank phone calls? Or
something more serious?
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• In 2003 research confirmed this as a new form of
  bullying, although numbers were small (Oliver
  Candappa) 1,200 yrs 5 8
• 4 had received nasty text messages
• 2 nasty emails
• SHEU found 2 of nearly 10,000 year 6 reported
  bullying via mobile phone

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• By 2005 a picture of girls of 15 using phones
  for nasty messages (Sugar)
• 16 sent them, nearly 1/2 received them.
• NCH 770 people, age 11-19, found
• 20 had experienced some bullying or threat via
  email, chatroom or text.
• 14 text bullying
• Internet chatrooms 5 and email 4

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• In the NCH study
• Almost ¾ knew the person, but 1 in 4 said
• it was a stranger.
• We began to become aware of risks.
• Same year Goldsmiths College 92 pupils
• From 14 London schools.
• Up to 1 in 5 experienced bullying via phone or
  net
• Picture clips, texts, emails and some chatroom
  bullying.

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• In 2005 Becta 444 schools teachers in 25 LAs
• 87 of teachers no incidents in average month
• 11 encountered between 1 and 5 per month
• Less than 1 more than 11 per month
• Older age groups and girls more likely.
• 15.5 of teachers did encounter 1-5 incidents
  involving websites chatrooms or emails.
• 83 of teachers not aware of any incidents
• Was it being exaggerated? Are they telling?
  Discussion of types of cases seen

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• Complex video clips Happy Slapping

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• Adults slow to realise implications until
  teachers were targeted.
• Dis-inhibiting effect of being unseen
• Remote
• Humiliating enormous reach
• Teens not aware of electronic footprint left
• Little robust research, media creates fear

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Fear
Media
Hype

• Emerging

Now understanding responses
evaluating practical steps
MSN, websites, videoclips, social networking,
outweigh emails and texts as most
hurtful. Principles of bullying the same, but
new tools -greater power, secrecy and reach -
humiliate
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• Guidance - Childnet and CEOP
• Protection from Crime and Harassment Act
• Malicious Communications Act 1988
• Section 43 Telecommunications Act
• Byron report
• Work with providers
• Blocking technology growing
• Training for Safeguarding, netiquette, responses
• http//wiredforsafety.org.gb/stalking/index.html

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• What is the most recent local picture?
• We all ask the questions in different ways so
  nothing is comparable.
• In West Midlands figures appear low but certain
  cases can be very serious.
• Wide gap between adult/parent understanding and
  what young people say (Get I.T.Safe NCH Tesco
  2006)

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• 30 bullied by mobile, by email or on the net
  (small in-depth Midland survey August 2008
  ongoing).
• Of 2132 young people, well over 90 said it had
  never happened to them (2007) asked
• nasty messages or pics by text/email and nasty
  calls to mobile. No net?
• Are new forms not being captured?

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• 1/3 children regularly blog
• 67 of parents dont know what blog is
• 46 of kids can get round parental blocks
• 53 of children are unsupervised online
• 78 of children use IM
• 29 of parents dont know what IM is
• Content, Contact, Commerce, Compulsion
• (Get I.T.Safe NCH Tesco 2006)

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• Excellent resources available
• www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications
• Ref DCSF-00685-2007
• www.digizen.org.uk Childnet
• CEOP Becta Byron report
• Local resources Sandwell

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• Action points what would you want to see?
• Educate adults parents, carers, managers and
  staff in residential settings.
• Educate young people to be e-safe, consider
  e-footprint, the law, unsafe contacts, giving out
  personal data, hurting others.
• Develop better monitoring tools
• Evaluate what we do Keep up!

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• Start younger
• Look at clubs
• Social networking
• Websites, blogs
• Misuse of photos
• Embed Safe To
• Learn

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• Anti Bullying work is about
• Inclusion
• Participation
• Equality
• Rights
• Citizenship
• How we want our communities
• to be

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adrienne_at_abawestmidlands.org.uk