Cyberbullying On The Rise

Steven — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:36:38 +0000

Approximately 10% of all adolescents in grades 7 through 9 are victims of internet bullying, also known as cyberbullying. “Cyberbullying occurs when new technologies such as computers and mobile phones are used to harass or bully somebody. The perpetrators often use SMS, e-mail, chat rooms and Facebook to spread their message,” says Ann Frisen, Professor of Psychology at the University of Gothenburg and a part of an EU network of researchers studying the phenomenon. Although cyberbullying doesn’t confer any direct physical harm, it can be more emotionally and mentally damaging because the victims have little refuge. Cyberbullying can occur during and after school hours, and the harassment can spread across the internet very quickly. Research shows that the perpetrator is almost always from the same school as the victim, and can be smaller or younger than the victim since cyberbullies are able to act anonymously. So as childhood moves further into cyberspace, so must parenthood. Parents, and authority figures alike, should be aware of cyberbullying in order to successfully confront this rising trend. [via Medical News Today]

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The Cultural Change On Bullying

Steven — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:44:08 +0000

Next month, the American Academy of Pediatrics will publish its new statement on the pediatrician’s role in preventing youth violence, and for the first time a section on bullying is to be included. One in four children report that they have been involved in bullying – either as the bully or the victim – making this a serious topic in which all physicians, parents, and schools should be proactive in confronting. The aim of the new recommendations is to change the culture of bullying through class discussions, parent meetings and consistent responses to every incidence of bullying. One of the paradigm shifts in thought about bullying is that the victims must be protected, but at the same, attention should be focused on bullies as well – research has shown that bullies are less likely to finish school or hold down a job. Concurrently, victims of bullying are more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts. Hopefully, the new recommendations will go a long way in reducing these long-term consequences of bullying and get people to realize that bullying is not a normal part of childhood which is often deemed by parents to be a rite of passage necessary for success later in life.

RightHealth Daily Dose » bully

Cyberbullying On The Rise

The Cultural Change On Bullying