Cyberbullying

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying using the internet, mobile phone or other technologies. It can take the form of sending nasty, mean or threatening messages, emails, photos or video clips; silent phone calls; posting nasty comments or photos; pretending to be someone else in a chat room, profile or text message and saying hurtful things; or accessing someone’s accounts to make trouble for them. 

Advice for children and young people

Don’t Reply to...

messages that harass or annoy you.

Keep the Message.

You don’t have to read it, but keep it. Keep a record of the details, dates and times of any form of bullying that you experience.

Tell Someone you trust.

Talking to your parents, friends, a teacher, youth leader or someone you trust is usually the first step in dealing with any problem. In school related bullying you should talk to a teacher you trust or guidance counsellor about it.

Block the Sender.

You don’t need to put up with someone harassing you. If you are getting messages that upset you on your Bebo profile or on MSN you can block the person simply by clicking the block button. On some mobile phones you can restrict communications to an approved list of contacts. Mobile phone companies like Meteor can’t bar numbers but will help you to change your phone number in the case of serious bullying.

Report Problems...

to the people who can do something about it.

You can take control by not putting up with nasty content and by reporting it when you come across it. Report problems to the service provider (Bebo, Facebook etc.) and in serious cases contact the Gardaí.

Useful links

www.childline.ie
www.barnardos.ie
www.bullying.co.uk/young_people/cyberbullying/index.aspx
www.actagainstbullying.org

Publications

Get With IT: A Guide to Cyberbullying

This booklet aims to increase awareness of cyberbullying in the new media world and to help parents and young people understand new media technologies.