Internet Bullying

March 21, 2007

Editors note: Last year Express contributing editor Rick Coates’ three-part investigative piece on the Internet social-networking activities (MySpace.com) of Northern Michigan teens resulted in a wake-up call for
many parents and school systems. This past winter Coates continued his research on the challenges of the Internet to produce another series. He will look at Internet Bullying, Internet Gambling and Internet Pornography. If you were concerned with your kid’s activities on MySpace, those may be the least of your worries.


 
When my daughter approached me a year and a half ago about having her own MySpace site as well as an instant messaging account, I was concerned. She was 12 and until that point her access to the Internet was mostly under the supervision of her parents. Now she was asking to enter a world of social networking and instant messaging that I was not a part of. At the time I had been going to MySpace for about a year as a music journalist to learn about bands. I thought the site was for musicians and their fans, and was unaware of the social-networking component.
As I started exploring the social networking aspects of MySpace, I was shocked to find sexually suggestive photos of area teens online, along with diary entries of their sexual adventures and fantasies. There were also blog entries that were mean-spirited toward classmates and others.
My daughter was told “no.” Now 14, she has been granted access with strict guidelines on her usage of both her social networking site and for instant messaging.
After the series on MySpace appeared last spring in the Express, a call came in from a counselor at a rural school district in Northern Michigan. She expressed her thanks but said, “For my school system, the article appeared two weeks too late. We just had a 13 year old boy commit suicide as a result of cruel cyber-bullying he had been experiencing.”
Cyber-bullying? I had never heard that one before. So I launched into further research into the trappings and challenges of the Internet for kids, teens and adults.  If you were as shocked as I was about the MySpace stuff, you better sit down for this.
 
‘A REAL ISSUE’
A few months ago a principal from a Northern Michigan high school called to talk about the series I had written on MySpace. She told me I better look into “Internet bullying” because there “isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that she is not dealing with it at her school.” A couple of weeks ago this was reaffirmed when, at a social event, a Traverse City area assistant principal said, “Internet bullying was becoming a real issue for us.”
Almost to the day my daughter was granted access to MySpace and an AOL Instant Messaging (AIM) account, I learned of a frightening exchange of online correspondence between two of her classmates. Apparently, all summer long these two students were at odds with each other, waging a battle of words online that resulted in one student threatening to do serious bodily harm to the other student.
So, exactly what is cyberbullying?
According to Nancy E. Willard, MS, JD (Eugene, OR), a frequent presenter at national education conferences on issues related to the safe and responsible use of the Internet, “Cyberbullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators as young people embrace the Internet and other digital communication technologies.” She defines it in two forms:
Cyberbullying is being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material or engaging in other forms of social aggression using the Internet or other digital technologies.
 Cyberthreats are either direct threats or distressing material that raise concerns that a young person may be considering committing an act of violence against others or him/herself.
Willard recently released two definitive books on the subject “Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats” in January of this year, and just last week, released “Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens.”  This week she is launching a web-based resource for parents and educators at www.cskcst.com.
Willard, who has been educating parents and educators for more than 10 years on the subject of the safe use of the Internet, was unable to find a publisher for her books at first.  “The publishing houses didn’t feel there was a need for books on these subjects,” she said.
 
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
Yet, headlines in the media of cyberbullying and violence in schools might have been prevented had parents and educators been better informed of the online world. According to Willard, “Several recent tragic school shootings might have been prevented had officials been better informed of threats made online,” citing the example in Wisconsin that 37 students were aware that a fellow student was planning an attack based on his online threats.
Willard offers this warning to parents and educators.
“If you think you have adequate safe measures in place in school and home in regards to your kids’ Internet access and usage, you may want to revisit what you are doing. One big myth is filters. Schools and parents think that filters work, but in reality, Internet-savvy kids are Googling for Internet filter overrides and bypassing the filters put in place by parents and schools.”
 
‘DOWNRIGHT VICIOUS’
On the condition of anonymity, a Northern Michigan school administrator had the following comment:
“We know we have a problem. Our students are coming to the computer labs under the guise of doing research. They have been able to bypass the filters in place and are sending instant messages during school hours. They are clever and are using other students’ accounts to send nasty messages. It has become a real challenge. Some of what is being sent is beyond the typical bullying. It is downright vicious. It is destroying kids’ reputations.”
Willard said this practice is common and often it can be difficult to discover who is actually sending the messages.
“Teens often feel that they are ‘hidden’ or ‘invisible’ when they make these statements or threats online,” said Willard. “Because they feel no one will be able to identify them as the one making the threat or starting a rumor, they are more vicious in their statements. But this sense of being invisible is false and statements can be traced. I warn parents to let their kids know that they should be very careful about what they write about other students online.”
 
LOCKER ROOM PHOTOS
Another challenge has been camera phones and small digital cameras that
have allowed students to photograph fellow students without their clothes on in locker rooms, and then posting those pictures online.
“Some of what is going on out there is downright cruel,” said Willard. “No school district or region of the country is immune to cyberbullying and cbyerthreats. It is happening everywhere.”
So, what is the motivation?
“Bullying has been a part of human nature for a long time,” said Willard. “Internet bullying is an extension of this process. Kids are led to believe that they appear to be better or more popular if they make someone else look bad. What often happens is the situation escalates into a dangerous situation where online threats result in physical altercations. Then there are the extremes of school shootings and suicides.”
Willard said many schools are on shaky legal ground in regards to enforcement or discipline of Internet bullying.
“Internet free speech groups have been effective in lobbying against much-needed legislation to curb this problem, and give schools the ammunition they need,” said Willard. “In general, I support the position of these groups when it comes down to free speech, but something has to be done to empower schools to address the situation.”
 
PARENTAL SUITS
Willard points out that cyberbullying has found some parents in court being sued by other parents. There is also the potential for criminal charges being brought for cyberthreats and bullying.
“Parents should be concerned about potential legal ramifications of their kids’ actions online,” said Willard. “While there have been few lawsuits to date, parents could find themselves being sued for parental negligence.”
Recently, a downstate Michigan teen took pictures of fellow classmates having sex at a party in his home. He posted the pictures online and is currently being prosecuted for supplying “child pornography online.” The girl in the photos was 15 at the time and attempted suicide after the humiliation of the online photos. Her parents are suing his parents.
 So what advice does Willard have for educators?
 “First, schools need to address their policies on Internet access and usage at school, and if they have a server accessible for usage by students during and after school hours,” said Willard.
“Often, those within the school system that are charged with addressing threats towards the school do not communicate with those charged with overseeing computer usage at the schools. Schools have gone to great lengths to have a lockdown policy and are addressing what to do once an attack happens, but they have little in place in regards to thwarting a potential attack from happening. Often, these threats are discussed online. Make sure you are reviewing your policies in this area often. Again, don’t assume that if you have the latest and greatest in filters, that this is the end all.”

WHAT TO DO?
As for parents:
“Don’t use the fear factor with kids. They will be less likely to listen to you. They will also be less likely to turn to you when they experience cyberbullying,” said Willard. “Kids and teens need guidance and instruction from parents, not scare tactics. Discuss with them acceptable usage and your expectations from them. Open communication is important, and if you create an environment of understanding they will be more likely to be open with you.”
To learn more about Willard’s research or to access her complimentary pamphlets for parents, teens and educators, visit
her new website at www.cskcst.com or contact her at the Center For Safe and Responsible Internet Use by calling
541-344-9125. Willard will soon be offering online workshops for educators and parents.
While cyberbullying and cyberthreats are on the rise among teens in the region, of equal concern is the accessibility to Internet pornography and gambling among kids and teens. What might appear to be innocent online games for kids are actually leading many kids to the trappings of Internet gambling. Parents will be shocked to learn that what they thought were sites that help kids with math skills are actually teaching them online gambling skills.
If your son or daughter is using the Internet without your supervision, there is an 80% likelihood that they have
been exposed to online pornography accidentally, even with filters in place. National studies show that 60% of teenagers are visiting Internet porn sites. Michigan ranks 10th in the world for the amount of child pornography being viewed online; California is the only state that ranks higher.
 
The Internet Insider series will continue in April with a look at the impact of Internet pornography and gambling is having on kids and teens in Northern Michigan.