Cyber-bullying

Cyber-bullying is using technology to deliberately and repeatedly bully someone else. It can happen to anyone, anytime, and can leave you feeling unsafe and alone.

Cyber-bullying can include:

-abusive texts and emails
-posting unkind messages or images
-imitating others online
-excluding others online
-inappropriate image tagging

Remember, treat others as you would like to be treated when communicating online.

While cyber-bullying is similar to face-to-face bullying it also differs in the following ways:

-it can give the person doing the bullying a sense of being anonymous
-it can occur 24/7 and be difficult to escape
-it is invasive and you can be targeted while at home
-it can have a large audience - sent to groups or posted on a public forum
-it can be permanent

How to deal with it:

-Don’t retaliate or respond.
-Block the person doing the bullying and change your privacy settings.
-Report it - Click the report abuse button.
-Collect the evidence - keep mobile phone messages and print emails or social networking conversations.
-Talk to someone you trust, like a family member or friend.

Talking to your teachers or parents can make a difference. Your school may have policies in place to deal with bullying and cyber-bullying.

Remember, if you witness someone being bullied, ACT! Tell someone, offer support, don't become a part of it by forwarding it on...

For this article and more on cyber-bullying check out cybersmart.