Mrs. Schroeder's Website

 Please read the following information below. Click on the link as well to the newspaper article and read it. In the assignment area, print out today's worksheets. They will be due tommorrow.

CYBERBULLYING: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, almost 90% of youth in the U.S. are online and 50% have a cell phone.  For the current generation of young people, e-mailing, IM-ing, text messaging, chatting and blogging are a vital means of self-expression and a central part of their social lives. 

There are increasing reports, however, that some youth are misusing Internet and cell phone technology to bully and harass others, and even to incite violence against them.  The organization, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, reports that more than 53% of young people have been the targets of cyberbullying.  In another survey, almost 80% of Internet-using adolescents indicate being aware of cyberbullying that occurs online and over one-third report that they have seen their friends bully others online.  For some of these youth, online cruelty may be a precursor to more destructive behavior, including involvement in hate groups and bias-related violence.

HAVE YOU BEEN CYBER BULLIED?

You may have been a victim of cyber bullying and not even realized it. To follow are a list of terms that cyber bullies use:

Flaming: Online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language.

Harassment: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude and insulting messages.

Cyberstalking: Repeatedly sending message that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating; engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety.

Denigration: “Dissing” someone online. Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships.

Exclusion: Intentionally excluding someone from an online group, like a “buddy list” or a game.

Trolling: Intentionally posting provocative messages about sensitive subjects to create conflict, upset people, and bait them into “flaming” or fighting.

Impersonation: Breaking into someone’s account, posing as that person and sending messages to make the person look bad, get that person in trouble or danger, or damage that person's reputation or friendships.

Outing and trickery: Sharing someone’s secrets or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information, which is then shared online.

REAL LIFE: HOW DO YOU HANDLE THIS?

• Sondra is planning a slumber party to celebrate her birthday.  her parents have set a limit of eight girls, so Sondra can't invite everyone she'd like.  Two girls who are left out overhear the plans.  Angry, they plan their revenge.
• The girls make a "We Hate Sondra Jones" web site. They say that anyone invited to the party should not go. They tell everyone in school the site's address. The girls invite everyone to add new reasons why they hate Sondra and spread ugly rumors about her.
• When Sondra heas about it, she gets a sick feeling in her stomach. Unable to ignore it, she checks the site often.  Each day she finds a new nasty comment or joke about her.  She feels hurt and powerless to defend herself.  Sondra is too embarassed to go to school and tells her parents she is sick.

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• For the tenth day in a row, Andrew opens an email that says, "I'm getting closer". He doesn't recognize the sender's address. He wonders if someone at school is trying to scare him.  On the other hand it could be a stranger.
• Whatever the source, Andrew is scared. The next afternoon, Andrew is home alone.  The emails come every few minutes.  "I'm hiding in yoru house using a wireless Internet connection. You'll never find me, but I'll find you."

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RECOGNIZING BULLIES

Both Sondra and Andrew are the targets of online bullies. Whether bullies are face to face or in cyberspace, they feel powerful when they bother other people.  They may use hurtful words or threaten.  Often the online bully is someone you know face to face.  Perhaps the bully finds it easier to be mean and nasty online, where he or she can't see the other person's reaction.  Online or off, bulling is meant to make you feel uncomfortable.  Usually online bullying does not cross over to real life, but it can.  Either way it's upsetting.

TRUE STORY: ST. LOUIS MISSOURI

Click the link below to read the story of the girl who commited suicide after being a victim of cyber bullying.

Girl, 13, commits suicide after online bullying

(Above Megan Meier)

TAKING ACTION

Bullying should not be tolerated, whether in school or in cyberspace.  Trust your uncomfortable feelings--they mean something is wrong. Here is what you can do:

1. Sign off the computer
2. Leave the chat room or Web site
3. Block the bully's messages
4. Save and print the bully's emails or your message logs
5. Never reply to a bully.
6. Talk over how to handle the situation with a friend.
7. Report your experience to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult.

ASSIGNMENT:

Part One:

Click on the link below and print out today's worksheets.

Answer questions below concerning the article on the young lady in Missouri.

1) What was the girl's name who died?

2) What was the 'social network' she was working in while on the computer?

3) Who did she think she was cooresponding with?

4) In reality, who WAS she cooresponding with?