Cyber-Bullying in the Digital Age

Purpose of This Blog:

The landscape of Canadian schools has changed over the past decade. Bullying is no longer a social issue limited to the grounds of the schoolyard; it has moved off the playgrounds and into the privacy of homes. Since the arrival of the modern digital age, there has been an increase in students’ interaction with technology. Students now have the capability to contact any person at the touch of a mouse from the comfort of their own home. With greater opportunity for interconnected social networks, problems can develop where by people abuse the system and the civil liberties of others.
The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness among teachers about the importance of educating students regarding cyber-bullying in Canadian schools. The medium for bullying has changed, however the message that bullying is wrong, has stayed the same. Teachers must take an active role in the technological education of students. They must inform students of the negative effects of bullying and teach them how to build productive social relationship on the Internet rather than the negative relationships created by cyber-bullying.

Description of Cyber-Bullying:

Cyber-bullying is defined by Hinduja and Patchin as the “Intentional and repeated act of causing harm to others through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” (2006, pp. 4). Cyber-bullies’ feel free to use technology as a medium to tease others, without consequence, because of the spatial divide provided by cyber space. This divide creates a low threat of students fighting back against cyber-bullies. Studies show that many students who report that they are being cyber-bullied become discouraged because they receive little recognition for their claims. Many school executives require students to prove that cyber-bulling has taken place and are hesitant when taking action against this bullying (Fearnley, Fran. 2004: pp. 70). Therefore, it is the responsibility of an educator to take students concerns regarding cyber-bullying seriously and deal with them in the same systematic manner as they would for any other form of bullying.

How This Relates to the Classroom:

Cyber-bullying can occur by way of many different mediums such as email, instant messages, chat rooms, Web sites, or through digital messaging or images sent to a cellular phone. Every one of these technologies is relevant to a student’s technological education and their later careers. Most students begin working with technology prior to being taught proper Internet etiquette and appropriate communication skills. Therefore, in order for students to become positive members of the digital society, teachers must educate students on the negative effects of cyber-bullying and that it is fundamentally wrong to bully another person.
The following is an example of a cyber-bullying incident that occurred recently in Manitoba over the networking website ‘Facebook’. A couple of players from the North Winnipeg Nomads 14 year-old boys football team posted physical threats on the website against their rivals, the Crescentwood Grizzlies. CBC stated that the, “Parents and coaches of the Grizzlies players took the threats so seriously that they cancelled a game against the Nomads that weekend. The club has suspended the two players till investigation is complete” (2008, para. 3). What these students might have thought of as innocent competition quickly escalated to the point where parents and the league had to interject. It is possible that if these students had been educated on the severity of cyber-bullying this incident may have been avoided.

Potential Problems:

Many teachers and school executives blame this social problem on technology, claiming that students have too much freedom on the Internet. Shariff explains that many schools solution to the cyber-bullying problem is to “Keep children safe by installing firewalls and block filters… or ban the use of cellphones, Ipods and social communications networks in the school and sometimes in the home” (2008, pp. 126). This solution only tackles the surface of the cyber-bullying issue, as students will not always have these same restrictions every time they turn on a computer. The problem must be dealt with in a preventive manner that builds a socially respectful environment for students when using technology to communicate with others. Through informing students of the effects of cyber-bullying and enforcing a reprimand, teachers are better equipped to eradicate this problem.

Manitoban Solutions:

In Manitoba a big step has been taken towards solving the cyber-bullying issue that is plaguing schools. The Amendment to the Manitoban bill 24 was created to enforce the idea that cyber-bullying in all its forms is unacceptable. This bill states that, “Schools must include in their codes of conduct a statement that cyber-bullying is unacceptable” (The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Bill 24, para. 4). This bill has increased recognition of this issue in Manitoban schools. However, a problem still persists with how individual cyber-bullying will be dealt with in the school system. The Winnipeg School Division answers this concern by reserving the right to “Impose disciplinary measures for conduct that occurs off school property where there is evidence of an online threat or intimidation which results in a disruption in the school community or is harmful to the physical or mental well-being of students or staff” (Appropriate use of Communication Devices and On-line Information, para. 1.5). In conjunction, these two new policies shift the responsibility onto educators to inform students about how cyber-bullying is unacceptable and how students who commit cyber-bulling will be held accountable for their actions.

Pedagogical Advice For Teachers:

In cyber-space there are no principals and no teachers to enforce rules for respectful behavior like in the classroom. Shariff points out that “Virtual spaces are extremely different from physical ones, and as such they generate a new set of social conventions among youths” (2008, pp. 124). If educators wish to form students into respectful, considerate members of society there needs to be a shift away from controlling the behaviors of students to teaching them how to make the right decisions. Students need to be taught why bullying other students creates a negative social environment. Students need to take hold of their own learning through being informed of the possibilities for creating negative social relationships and choose to make the right decisions.

Conclusion:

Bullying has been an issue plaguing schools for over a century. The medium for bullying has change allowing it to become a more pervasive problem, affecting many more students. Educators’ issue with cyber-bullying should not be solely concerned with the technologies used, but rather with students’ improper usage of its capabilities. Students rarely have the same parent controls on their computers at home, therefore, it is more important to educate children on the right behaviors expected of them in cyber space, rather than just banning technology. In conclusion, it is important that educators begin looking to prevent cyber-bullying through education rather than only attempting to police it.

Bibliography:

Fearnley, Fran. (2004). I Wrote on All Four Walls: Teens Speak Out on Violence. Toronto: Annick Press.

Kowalski, Robin M., Limber, Susan P., & Agatson, Patricia W. (2008). Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing.

Manitoba Football Players’ Trash Talk Out of Hand: Officials. (September 9,2008).
http://www.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/09/09/minor-football.html#socialcomments

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2006). Bullies move beyond the schoolyard; A preliminary look at cyber bullying. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. Toronto: Sage Publications.

Shariff, Shaheen. (2008). Cyber-Bullying: Issues and Solutions for the School, the Classroom and the Home. New York: Routledge.

Smith, Fran. (2006). Going After Cyberbullies. [Ebsco Host]. (October 18, 2008).
http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/ehost/detail.html

The Public Schools Amendment Act (Cyber-Bullying and Use of Electronic Devices). (June 12, 2008). The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Bill 24. http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/sess/b024e.php

The Appropriate Use of Communication Devices and On-line Information Resources. (June 25, 2007). The Winnipeg School Division. http://ww.wsd1.org/board/policies_pdf/Policy_JFCBA.pdf

Yar, Majid. (2006). Cybercrime and Society. London: Sage Publications.