Cyberbullying is the use of information Communications
Technology (ICT) particularly mobile phones and the internet,
deliberately to upset someone else.
In September 2007 The Department for Children Schools and
Families (DCSF) published “
Cyberbullying” under the heading of “Safe to Learn: Embedding
anti-bullying work in schools”.It is free. It is designed to give
practical advice to young people, their carers and school
staff.
A useful summary document is also available titled
Cyberbullying: A whole-school community issue.
What is different about cyberbullying?
- It is there every minute of every day
- It invades home/personal space
- The audience can be very large and reached rapidly
- People who cyberbully may attempt to remain anonymous
- The profile of the bully and target
- Some instances of cyberbullying are known to be
unintentional
- Many cyberbullying incidents can themselves act as
evidence
The best way to deal with cyberbullying is to prevent it
happening in the first place. Schools and parents must share this
goal and need to recognise that there is no single solution.
Childline has produced a CD-Rom titled “Know It All for parents”
and it can be ordered or downloaded freely
from childnet.
For schools, the key areas are:
- Understand and talk about cyberbullying. Make sure that the
whole school community agrees on its definition and understands its
impact on victims
- Update existing policies and practices, including Acceptable
Use Policies (AUPs) and publicise them widely
- Encourage reporting of incidents and make it easy
- Actively promote positive use of technology with whole school
community to lessen the knowledge gap. (Students can often teach
the teachers and/or parents)
- Promote ‘netiquette’ and e-safety
- Evaluate effectiveness of your policies regularly. Keep
cyberbullying a live issue and celebrate your successes
Teachers are particularly vulnerable to being victims of
cyberbullying. They need to take steps to protect themselves, by
carefully limiting access to their personal equipment. For more
information visit teachersupport
If a teacher feels threatened by new technologies, they are not
in a good position to educate their students on their safe use.
Cyberbullying and the law:
- The Education and Inspections Act 2006 gives head teachers
power ‘to such an extent as is reasonable’ to regulate the conduct
of pupils when they are off site and to confiscate equipment such
as mobile phones
- Some cyberbullying activities could be criminal offences under
a range of different laws: The Protection From Harassment Act 1997,
The Malicious Communications Act 1988, The Communications Act 2003
and the Public Order Act 1986
