Bullies shifting focus to Facebook
Canadian teens are seeing more bullying
activity on the web, and particularly on social networks, as teens
use mobile devices more often than ever before.
What's more is that about 14 per cent of teens say the bullying was about themselves.
Under the guidelines of the survey, the social bullying was described as “mean or inappropriate comments” on social media sites.
With only 14 per cent of teens saying they were bullied on social networking sites doesn't seem like a whole lot. Some might expect the number to be significantly higher.
But what the survey is trying to point out is that a lot of this bullying could be taking place over mobile devices, away from parents and teachers.
That's because teen ownership of smartphones and other mobile devices is up to 43 per cent last year.
It's hard for parents to know what's going on behind the screens of their son or daughter's smartphones, and for teachers to be aware of what their students are chatting about online.
Apps like Snapchat – which lets users share pictures that 'expire' – help teens erase their digital tracks, creating an opportunity for bullying to take place without any traces of accountability.
Are you worried about online bullying?
- Maurice Cacho, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: SP | Mar 1, 2013 11:46:13 PM
"Are you worried about online bullying?"
Do you yearn for the good old days where kids could have their books stolen, clothing damaged, faces punched, or emotions laid bare infront of a large circle of their peers?
Do you miss the long forgotten hazing sessions that used to greet every short, young, 'weird' or 'different' kid at the start of the school year?
Or are you worried about being called fattie?
Sign this online petition to increase the likelihood that everyone's phones can be monitored under the auspices of 'protecting' teenagers who spend the bulk of their homelife shut away alone in their rooms or in a basement with nothing to keep them company but a phone or gaming console.
My teen daughters have facebook, they probably check it 5x a month. They have smart phones they use to arrange activities with their friends and to keep track of school projects/homework.
They (and my son) have at times been "bullied" at school just as virtually every other normal kid has been.
We used those instances as teaching points to prepare them for life in the working world. Life dictates that people will say hurtful things (even unintentionally). If your childs sole social environment in Facebook or texting, then you've got far greater worries than the odd hurtful comment here or there.
Besides... If you're curious about what your children are seeing on their phone, just ask them to show you. Unless you're judgmental or the type that freaks out when you see something you don't like, they'll be happy to show you.
Start to treat your children like adults, they will be so quicker than you think, and helping them learn now how to deal with normal life as a mature adult will make the transition that much easier.
Posted by: Jim B | Mar 2, 2013 4:01:24 AM
Sounds like SP might be one of the buttheads doing the bullying. Talk about being out of touch with reality.
Posted by: JLT | Mar 2, 2013 8:52:18 AM
I agree with you Jim. Someone definitely needs a reality check here. IF on line bullying isn't a problem then why in the last few years has so many teens committed suicide. Bullying is bullying, and sorry it doesn't make you tougher, nor does it prepare you for the real world. How do I know? I was bullied as a child. Many times I thought of just killing myself so I would not have to deal with the bullies at school. Bullies that would call you names, laugh at you, and shove you to the ground and spit on. My school work suffered. Self esteem? I had none. I was made to feel like I was NOTHING. I'm am grateful that finally something is being done. In my day if you told the teacher. They had your attitude. "SUCK IT UP IT WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER" It didn't. I used to walk to the other end of the school to use another bathroom just so I wouldn't have my face shoved into a toilet. So whether it's face to face bullying or on line. Bullying is bullying and should not be tolerated. It always amazes me that some people find bullying is just part of growing up. Yet these same people if they were bullied in the workplace would be the first ones to cry "harassment". You said "start to treat your children like adults" Well I'm all for that. So when they are caught harassing other's shall we just say "It's part of growing up" or should we then treat them like adults and charge them with harassment.
Posted by: Joyce Savage | Mar 2, 2013 3:08:59 PM
I have Borderline Personality Disorder because of bullying. It doesn't matter if it's online or in person. It ruins lives. If you don't know what BPD is, look it up.
Posted by: SP | Mar 2, 2013 10:43:17 PM
Ok such wise folks, please point out a society that has 'elimintated' bullying.
Or an environment where people aren't going to encounter bullies.
You can't? Shocking.
The reason I am for teaching children how to deal with bullying instead of pointlessly trying to eliminate a natural (though undesirable) human behaviour, is that it will always exist.
People drown, so to limit this happening we "teach them how to deal with it" (aka swimming) We don't wall off any body of water more than 2" deep. Some countries don't make a point of teaching swimming and their drowning rates are correspondingly higher.
Now to address your points:
Joyce, I studied Borderline Personality Disorder in University. To sum up it is 3/4's of the time time a defect in brain construction (no possible way caused by Facebook), the remaining 1/4 of the time it is almost always early family based (parental abuse, neglect, etc) so if that is the case with regards to this Facebook article... well then, there are much, much bigger issues there than Facebook.
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JLT: take a look at Suicide prevelence in young people (it is highest in the 15-34 age bracket) and then take a look at Facebook penetration worldwide. You might find it odd that suicides are so high in rural India and China where there is virtually no Facebook or smartphones....
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Jim B: I'm going to take this as being a bit tongue in cheek. Either that or you are unable to see the irony in your own use of abusive language (which amusingly JLT agreed with...) Step two in school yard bullying, no? LOL. Sadly you didn't answer the question posed by the article: "Are you worried about online bullying?" Can we take your response to mean, yes?, or no?
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Just accept that other people are going to say / do / like things that you don't and life will get much easier. Trying to force people to conform to your view of the world is the very basis of bullying and the most damaging power weilded by a tyrannical socieity.
Stalin and Chairman Mao would be so proud of you folks.
Small steps till the arrival of the thought police.