There is an old nursery, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." We know that is not true. Words and even pictures can be as hurtful as being hit or shoved.
Generally we think of bullies as those mean kids on the playground, street corner or bus who use their size to push smaller or weaker children around. Unfortunately that type of bullying is still around but an new kind of bullying has emerged in the electronic world.
A cyberbully uses the Internet, cell phones or other electronic devices to harm, threaten, or embarrass others. Here are some cyberbullying statistics:
- 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
- 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
- 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
- 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
- 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
- 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
Based on 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students grades 4-8
Your best protection is to be informed!
