How to Talk to Students about Cyberbullying
The website Media Smarts argues that the affects of cyberbullying can be much more severe for young people because the targets of cyberbullying feel like they have no way of escaping online bullying. Cyberbullying is also visible to more people and can be difficult to erase from the internet. Because of this it is important that schools take on an active role in educating students about the affects of cyberbullying and how it can be prevented. Schools have a responsibility to create strong caring school communities and to educate young people on internet safety. Below are a few ways to start a discussion with your students about cyberbullying.
- Create a safe space where students feel comfortable reporting cyberbullying.
- Verbalize to students that you as their teacher are there to talk if they need someone.
- Talk about online and digital behaviour in early grades before students start making their own online profiles which usually happens around grade 4/5.
- Let students know that they have a digital footprint and what that means.
- Start a discussion with students about what an upstander is and what a bystander is. An upstander is someone who stands up and reports bullying. A bystander is someone who stands by and lets bullying happen
- Let your students know that THEY are the change makers. If they see cyberbullying happen they can change the outcome by reporting it to the school.
If students are being cyberbullied
- Talk to a trusted adult.
- Sign off and NOT answer any comments online.
- Block the bully. Many social media sites allow you to block or report people let students know that this is an option for them.
- Save and print out bullying messages. If the online bullying continues have students print off or save the messages. This is important proof in case further action needs to be taken.
- Talk to a trusted adult.
Printables. (n.d.). Retrieved March 08, 2017, from http://www.witsprogram.ca/schools/printables/
Strategies for Fighting Cyberbullying. (n.d.). Retrieved March 08, 2017, from http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/digital-issues/cyberbulling/strategies-fighting-cyberbullying