What is it?
Cyber Bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as social-media websites, e-mail, mobile phone and text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal web sites, and defamatory online personal polling web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.
Key advice for students in dealing with Cyber Bullying
- Don't reply to messages that harass or annoy you. Responding to online slagging always makes the situation worse.
- Keep the message. The listing of the words that are typed in are hard evidence and are useful in a follow on investigation. All of the messages can be kept on your phone or you can keep screen grabs of the comments (you can use Google to show you how to do this).
- Tell someone you trust. Talking to your parents, teachers, friends, or someone you trust is an important first step in dealing with any issue. Remember you can ring Childline in confidence on 1800-666 666 or access online @ www.childline.ie.
- Block the sender. If you are getting messages that upset you on your Bebo profile or on MSN, you can block the person by simply pressing the Block Button. You can change your privacy settings to prevent people that aren't your 'Facebook friends' from commenting. Perhaps you will need to change your phone number or delete your Facebook / Twitter / Ask.fm account and create a new one, where you can control who you let be 'friends'.
- Refer to online supports. Look at www.internetsafety.ie or www.webwise.ie for good advice on how to stay safe online.