Cyber+Bullying

Bullying doesn’t just take place on playgrounds or in school hallways anymore. As we have all gone online, so, too, have bullies. The Internet allows you to communicate with your friends through e-mail, Web sites, instant messaging, chat rooms, blogs and text messages. But, these great tools also give bullies new ways to intimidate and be mean to others. Cyber bullying is quickly becoming a big problem for kids, parents and schools. Here are some tips to help you understand it and how to deal with it …
 * CYBER BULLYING **

**//What is Cyber Bullying? //** Cyber bullying is sending or posting harmful or mean text or images using the Internet or things like cell phones and PDA’s (personal digital assistants). Cyber bullying can include: Sending cruel, vicious or threatening e-mails; Creating Web sites that have stories, pictures and jokes ridiculing <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">others; <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Posting pictures of other students/kids online with mean phrases <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">or questions attached to them; <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Using someone else’s e-mail to send mean e-mails to others; and <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Using instant messaging tools to harass others. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Some of the ways kids bully other kids on the computer is by calling <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">them names, saying or writing mean things about them, threatening <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared or trying to make them <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">do things they don't want to do. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are a lot of reasons why kids bully. They may think it’s a way to <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">be popular or make themselves look tough and in charge. Some bullies <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">do it to get attention or to make other people afraid of them.

**//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana,BoldItalic','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How Can I Deal With Cyber Bullies? //** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ignore the bullying or tell the person to stop. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Tell your mom, dad, teacher or trusted adult if you are being <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">bullied online. This isn't tattling — it’s making sure you feel safe. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you know someone else who is being mean to other kids online, <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">tell that kid to stop and then make sure to tell a parent or teacher.

Print this Cyber Bullying pledge. Read it. Print it. You sign it, and have your parents sign it. Then turn in the paper you signed to the green bin. You will get 30 points!