Cyber Bullying – Visual

Figure 1. Flower, Beverage and Laptop (Pexel, 2019)

Visual Summation

DaniDavidsonEDC105Assessment2Visual from dani davidson on Vimeo.

Script

Cyber bullying is the repetitive, deliberate bullying of someone with the intention of hurting them socially, psychologically or even physically via the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and/or its applications.

Bullying through the use of technology differs from traditional bullying as it can metastasize rapidly across an extensive audience and be obtrusive, often having an over whelming presence in the victim’s life.

There are many different forms of cyberbullying and many platforms that can be commissioned to facilitate this behaviour.

Cyberbullying can include

  • Sending intimidating / abusive / hurtful messages, texts, emails, videos, images
  • Spreading gossip and rumours online
  • Excluding others online
  • Embarrassing others online

(Esafety, n.d.)

20% of Australians aged 8-17years

463000 youth aged 8-17years victims of cyberbullying

2013, 72% schools had cyberbullying reported

(Katz, Keeley, Spears, Taddeo, Swirsk, & Bates, 2014)

The effects of bullying will not be limited to impacting a victim’s personal life alone.

Woda (2013) suggests a student may present the following behaviours as a result of the accentuation evoked by cyberbullying.

  • Low self esteem
  • Isolation
  • Dropping extracurricular activities
  • Not contributing to classroom discussions
  • Decline of academic performance
  • Resistance in coming to school

Behaviours around technology may also indicate a child is being cyberbullied. These include:

  • Avoiding online activity
  • Hiding content on screens
  • Anxious when receiving notifications, emails or messages
  • Distressed after use of ICT devices

(Bullying No Way, 2019)

A pedagogical approach to confronting cyberbullying includes

  • Offering opportunities for students to raise issues
  • Encourage respectful listening and protective interrupting (Bullying No Way, 2019)
  • Incorporate teachings of feelings, social interaction, diversity, social structures, discrimination into lessons (Bulling No Way, 2019)

Howell (2012) describes the impact that technology is having on the classroom to comply with digital expectancies of stakeholders in education. With the increased presence of ICT in the classroom, comes the increased opportunity of cyberbullying.

Teach safety in both physical and online communities.

References

Bullying No Way (2019). Pedagogy and Bullying. Retrieved from https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/TeachingAboutBullying/WorkingInTheClassroom/Pages/Pedagogy.aspx

Bullying No Way (2019). Signs of Bullying. Retrieved from https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/WhatIsBullying/Pages/Signs-of-bullying.aspx

Bullying No Way (2019). Teaching About Bullying. Retrieved from https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/TeachingAboutBullying

ESafety. (n.d.). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/esafety-issues/cyberbullying

Howell, J (2012). Teaching with ICT. Melbourne, Oxford University Press.

Katz, I., Keeley, M., Spears, B., Taddeo, C., Swirski, T., & Bates, S (2014). Research on youth exposure to, and management of, cyberbullying incidents in Australia: Synthesis report (SPRC Report 16/2014). Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia. Retrieved from https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/Youth_exposure_to_and_management_of_cyberbullying_in_Australia__Synthesis_report.pdf

Pexels. (2019) Flower, beverage and laptop. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/macbook-pro-beside-white-cup-and-saucer-on-table-948888/

Woda, T. (2013). The Educational Impact of Bullying and Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://resources.uknowkids.com/blog/bid/302867/the-educational-impact-of-bullying-and-cyberbullying