So what can we do?
Because most incidents of bullying occur off adults' radar screens, it’s important that young
people learn to protect themselves online and respond to cyber bullying among peers when they
encounter it.
Prevention
Cyber bullying is everyone’s business and the best response is a proactive or preventative
one. To be proactive you can:
- Guard your contact information. Only give your cell phone number, instant messaging name or e-mail address to trusted friends, and keep a note of who you’ve given it to. Consider using caller ID blocking to hide your phone number when making calls. Similarly, don’t leave your name on your voicemail. Don't give your details to people you don't know – or don’t want to know!
- Take a stand against cyber bullying. Speak out whenever you see someone being mean to another person online. Most people respond better to criticism from their peers than to disapproval from adults.
Action
If you are being harassed online, take the following actions immediately:
- Tell an adult you trust. This can be a teacher, parent, older sibling or grandparent – someone who can help you to do something about it.
- Leave the area or stop the activity. People who bully get their kicks from knowing they’ve upset their target. Don’t let them know they’ve upset you, and you’ve taken away half their “fun”. Easier said than done when it’s face-to-face, but if it’s on your mobile or the Internet — easy!
- Block the sender’s messages. If you are being bullied through e-mail or instant messaging, block the sender’s messages. Never reply to harassing messages.
- Keep a record. Save any harassing messages and record the time and date that you received them.
- Advise your Service Provider. Most service providers have appropriate use policies that restrict users from harassing others. They can respond to reports of cyber bullying over their networks, or help you track down the appropriate service provider to respond to.
- Report to police. If the bullying includes physical threats, tell the police. Some people think that they can get away with it because they believe it is anonymous. They are wrong. Most can be traced and it’s a criminal offence to use a mobile phone or any form of communication to menace or harass or offend another person.
Support services
Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) is a free and confidential,
telephone counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds in Australia.
www.kidshelp.com.au
Lifeline (13 11 14) is a free and confidential service staffed
by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls 24-hour
a day, any day of the week from anywhere in Australia.
http://www.lifeline.org.au
Also see resources listed on other pages of this Spotlight.
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